Maharashtra Government releases SOP ahead of reopening schools

In recent developments, the state government has decided to permit more students to resume offline classes from August 17.

Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has further informed that students of classes 5 to 12 will be allowed to attend classes in rural areas from August 17 and in urban areas, students from classes 8 to 12 will be allowed to visit schools. Moreover, schools will reopen in areas where the coronavirus cases are under control.

According to the SOP released by the government, schools should be started only in those villages and cities where the number of COVID-19 cases has seen a substantial decline over the past month.

Moreover, after classes resume across the state, teaching hours will be limited to three to four hours per day and no cultural gathering or sports events will be permitted. Also, schools will have to provide isolation facilities and tie up with local health departments for an emergency situation.

The instructions are as follows:

• Schools have been asked to be equipped with digital thermometers and sanitisers.
• The district administration has been directed that if quarantine centres have been set up in schools, they need to be shut down before the school reopens.
• All school teachers and staff have been asked to undergo an RTPCR test 48 hours before the reopening of the school.
• The SOP states that only one student be allowed to sit on a class bench with a minimum of six feet of distance between two benches.
• Furthermore, the SOP states that all teachers need to be vaccinated for the coronavirus and local authorities must take steps to ensure that they get their doses.
• Also, local guardians and parents of students should not be allowed to step into school premises to stop crowding.

On the other hand, earlier on July 28, the Maharashtra government decided to slash school fees by 15 per cent for the current academic year. According to reports, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad stated, “Maharashtra cabinet today decided to slash school fees by 15 per cent for this academic year. A detailed order of this decision will be issued soon,”

Gaikwad further added that the decision is taken on the lines of the Rajasthan government. Parents' bodies have been demanding some relief from the state government in terms of slashing school fees in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Moreover, schools affiliated with various boards, including the Maharashtra board, have decided to abide by the news rules with regard to the slashing of fees.

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