After March, schools in Madhya Pradesh will reopen for regular classes for Classes X and XII from Friday.
Regular classes in State schools were yet to resume after lockdown was imposed over Covid-19 scare in March this year. Earlier, the State Government had permitted classes from IX to XII but attendance was optional.
However private school owners had recently threatened mass agitation in case the regular classes aren’t allowed. Tutorials have been allowed to function in the state.
Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI) on Thursday issued a letter to collectors and district education officials for conducting regular classes for classes X and XII from Friday onwards. On Friday, the schools will be having Parents Teacher meets in schools and those who will not be there will be reached out online for discussions.
The schools have been asked to maintain social distancing among students and sanitisers will be required to be arranged in school premises. No mass gatherings are allowed inside schools like prayers, sports and so on and the students will remain inside classrooms during lunch break.However, with schools having strength in hundreds are having tough time to follow social distancing norms. Schools are also chalking out schemes to follow these guidelines. A school in Jabalpur has decided to allow only 33% students in classes while another in Gwalior will have odd-even rule by allowing 50% students daily. Consent letters from parents is also required for students.
Schools remained busy in sanitising classrooms and other facilities on Thursday to gear up for regular classes. However, with transportation facilities having no provision for social distancing, it’s expected that attendance in schools could be dismal especially for those who live at far off places from school.