Chief Secretary issues SOPs
Dimapur, March 16 (MExN): The Government of Nagaland has permitted the resumption of regular classes for students of standards 1 to 5 in all schools across the State from March 22.
In a notification on March 16, State Chief Secretary J Alam issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 to be strictly followed during reopening of schools.
Only those schools outside containment zones have been allowed to reopen and students or teachers living in containment zones have not been allowed to attend schools. Students, teachers and employees have also been advised not to visit areas falling within containment zones.
Schools have been directed to prepare alternate day routine for classes so as to fulfill the physical distancing parameters. Schools have also been directed to frame the routine as per the enrolment in each class and infrastructure facilities available. Supplementary online/distance learning shall be encouraged, the notification stated.
Prior to the reopening, all work areas intended for teaching or demonstration including laboratories and other common utility areas are to be sanitized with particular attention to frequently-touched surfaces. Schools that were used as quarantine centres are to be properly sanitized and deep-cleaned before resumption of activities.
The respective school administrations have also been notified to make alternate arrangements for contactless attendance instead of biometric attendance. Among others, assemblies, sports and other events that can lead to overcrowding has been strictly prohibited.
On reopening, the entry points at each school are to mandatorily have hand hygiene and thermal screening provisions. Teaching faculty are to ensure that everyone wear masks throughout the conduct of teaching/guidance activities. Any violation of the SOPs will attract action against the management of the school or institution as per legal provisions, the government notified.
