Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to reopen schools for students of Std I to Std VII from February 28 instead of February 14 (which was announced earlier).
The decision was taken by the School and Mass Education Department after assessing reports from Collectors ‘seeking additional time for cleaning, bush cutting, minor repairs and ensuring clean environment for small school going children’.
A letter from S&ME Department Secretary Bishnupada Sethi to senior officials read, “They (Collectors) have also pointed out that in the meantime, the Election process for PRIs, 2022, is going on. Most of the polling personnel for the election consist of teaching and non-teaching staff.”
These polling personnel are undergoing training and engaged in other election-related works. Moreoever, school campuses will be used as polling stations, where movement of polling personnel including police, general public and voters is evident. This may create health hazards to the school going small children on account of COVID-19, the letter stated.
On these grounds, the S&ME Department stated, the schools for Std I to VII which was scheduled to start from February 14, is allowed to open from the same date, but students may not come to school and attend online classes. “However, all teachers should come to school and ensure thorough cleaning and sanitisation of the campus. The students should come to attend physical classes from February 28,” Sethi’s letter further stated.
