Chennai: At a time when the Tamil Nadu government is planning to reopen schools for classes IX to XII, the health department has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) that need to be followed before schools reopen. In this, 100% vaccination of teachers, school staff and eligible students is mandatory.
According to reports, the state government is likely to make an official announcement about the school reopening dates on August 20. However, the Department of School Education has tentatively announced that schools will be reopened from September 1.
The guidelines of the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine directed the school management to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene facilities in the school premises.
The government order states that the seating arrangement in the classrooms should be done in such a way that at least six feet distance is ensured between students and preferably one student per bench norms are followed. The order states that in case of pleasant weather, outdoor spaces can be used for taking classes.
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Explaining that the announcements should be made through a public announcement system so that the students are made aware of the COVID-19 guidelines, the order said that the posters of the guidelines should be placed in the school at appropriate places such as classrooms, hand washing stations, drinking water areas. should be pasted. e.t.c.
In the order the school management was directed to admit only 50% of the students at a time and the students could be asked to come either on alternate days or every two days in a week. The order said that schools should not organize any events where social distancing is difficult to maintain and gatherings should be avoided.
The order also directed the schools to sensitize the teachers, school staff, parents and students about the COVID-19 guidelines. “Thermal screening should be done, both students and teachers should not attend the schools belonging to the containment zone and should avoid going to the schools on seeing the symptoms of COVID,” the order said.
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