As Covid numbers go down, schools reopen in Tamil Nadu

Strict social distancing norms followed, only 2 students allowed to sit on one bench

 

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R Schools reopened in Tamil Nadu, which has been witnessing a steady decline in the number of daily Covid-19 cases. Nearly 80 per cent students from Classes 1 to IX came to attend the classes on Tuesday. The attendance percentage was 93 for Classes X to XII.

While all government run schools in the state reopened, some private schools gave options for online and offline classes, and a few schools still continue the online classes. On January 28, the state government and the school education department had issued the SOP for conducting physical classes for Classes I to XII, exempting playschools and kindergartens. The SOPs included wearing masks while in the classroom, checking the temperature before entering the school, use of hand sanitiser, and social distancing.

While allowing the schools to reopen, the government had also announced revised schedule for the first revision test for Classes X and XII from February 9 to 16. The second revision tests are scheduled to begin on March 28.

As the schools reopened on Tuesday, strict social distancing norms were followed and only two students were allowed to sit on a bench. Apart from social distancing, every school administration had sanitised the classrooms and the campus, and welcomed the students with hand sanitisers and thermal scanners.

“I enjoyed being at school, as I met my friends after almost two years. But including me only a few children were there in my class. I had missed this for the past two years,” tells Meenakshi, a Class V student in a school at MRC Nagar in Chennai.

Meanwhile, the education department has also taken cognisance of the need for vaccination among children between the age group of 15 to 17. Those children who have taken the first dose and due for the second dose will be administered with the vaccine, a senior official at the school education department told THE WEEK.