Following an order of the School and Mass Education Department, the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) has asked the concerned district Collectors to reopen Class-IX and hostels in the Special Schools for the students.
SSEPD Director Bratati Harichandan has written to the Collectors of Baleswar, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Koraput, Keonjhar, Puri, Kandhamal, Sundargarh and Khordha in this regard. As per the letter, the physical infrastructure available in these schools to maintain Covid protocols and the local Covid situation should be taken into account while reopening the schools.
The District Social Security Officers (DSSOs) concerned should be instructed to regularly monitor the functioning of the schools and hostels and submit a monthly report on the attendance of students and additional arrangement made, if any, for residential accommodation of the students keeping in view social distancing norms, the letter said.
An officer, preferably Additional District Magistrate (ADM) or Sub-Collector, may be deputed to personally visit the institution in their respective districts and ensure that necessary safety procedures are implemented, the Director further said.
On August 5, S&ME Principal Secretary Satyabrata Sahu had directed to reopen Class-IX for classroom teaching from August 16 with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
The teaching hour for Class-IX students is going on in all Government schools from 9 am to 12.30 pm everyday, excluding Sundays and public holidays. The students are allowed to attend the classes either on online mode or offline mode in consultation with their parents. Attendance is not mandatory for students in offline mode.
The schools have been reopened for the Classes-X and XII students from July 26 following improvement in the Covid-19 situation. Later the classes of Class-XI students would commence from September 15, sources said.