Andhra Pradesh: With schools closed down in the wake of the pandemic, gates are now gradually reopening for students. Shutdown created a learning gap among students and became a huge cause of concern for several parents and students. But several schools in India are now reopening due to decreasing positivity rates.

Classroom teaching resumes with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols

The state government of various states announced the partial reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12, including Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Lakshadweep, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Orissa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi schools are currently allowing entry only for admission-related work and physical activities to classes 10 to 12.

Right now, all the schools in India are opening only at 50 percent capacity with shift-based classes to maintain the safety protocols. The majority of physical classes will be in the first half of the morning to be conducted in batches of 15 to 20.

Schools reopening in India with guidelines

Since the third wave is still a possibility, the Department of Primary and Secondary Education has released the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for schools as COVID precautions.

Schools must adhere to strict COVID protocols, like social distancing, face masks, hand sanitization, and a face shield for teachers over 50 years of age. Besides, one dose of vaccination is mandatory for all the teachers. School buses are allowed to run while maintaining social distancing. Also, students have to bring lunch and drinking water from their homes.

Educational institutes are the significant stakeholders of responsibility for students' health. Thus, daily cleaning and sanitization of private schools and public schools with the help of local civic bodies are crucial. Schools are further encouraged to conduct exercises and yoga sessions that will help improve the children's health and immunity in this crisis time.

AP government distributed books and accessories

To boost the morale of students studying in the state's aided and government schools, the Andhra Pradesh government is distributing the Vidya Kumari Kit that consists of a school bag, uniforms, notebooks, and textbooks.

What experts say about the third wave (Delta+)?

Amid ongoing speculations over the COVID third wave, several experts believe interruptions will be the same whether it's a second or third wave for all the states. Thus, bringing kids safely back to the classrooms is a fundamental responsibility for the school body and government alike.

These unprecedented times had been really challenging for pupils, teachers, and school management. So everyone should maintain COVID precautions to be back to school carefully.

Reference Link: https://www.hirawatsonline.com/blog/finally-schools-reopened-in-india-with-limited-capacity-and-covid-sops/