Schools, Colleges To Reopen From September In A Phased Manner

Pune: In this Unlock3.0 Phase and continue further, the central government is planning to reopen schools and colleges in a staggered manner between September 1 and November 14. The fresh guidelines are expected to be out on August 31, the decision on reopening will be left to states.

According to new rules, students of standard 10 and 12 will attend classes in their classrooms for first 15 days. If Class 10 has four sections, half the students of sections A and C would be required to come on particular days, and the others on the remaining days, as per the source from state education department.

The number of school hours, the report states, would be restricted to 5-6 hours, out of which 2-3 hours would require physical attendance. The report states that all schools are likely to run in shifts, from 8 to 11 am and 12 to 3 pm, with one hour break in between for sanitisation. The schools would be asked to run with 33 percent teaching staff and students.

Schools and colleges across the country have been closed since March 16, soon after the centre announced the nationwide lockdown to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.