Punjab school education minister Vijay Inder Singla, onSunday, said that following the approval of Chief Minister Captain AmarinderSingh in view of the present Covid situation, the education department is allset to reopen schools for all classes from August 2 onwards.
The cabinet minister said that the schools will beconducting physical classes right from pre-primary to senior secondary level.He added that timings will remain the same from 8 am to 2 pm and parents willhave to provide written consent before sending their wards to schools.
Vijay Inder Singla said that the reopening of schoolswould play an important role to assess the learning of the students during thepandemic as the teachers were able to contact the students through virtualclasses only.
He said that after the assessment of the students, theteachers would focus on the fields which will be requiring more attention. Hesaid that the reopening of schools will also provide a chance to the schoolsand teachers to teach the practical subjects in a better way by conductingpractical classes.
Singla also directed the education department officialsand school managements to ensure proper cleaning of premises and classrooms andfollow the Covid-19 safety norms precisely as per the guidelines of Governmentof India and Punjab Government from time to time.
He said that the detailed guidelines have been issuedsoon to all district education officers which have also been circulated to allschools.
The minister directed the district education officers toensure both doses of Covid vaccination of teaching and non-teaching staffbefore allowing them to conduct physical classes and should also arrangeavailability of vaccine for school staff on priority basis in liaison withrespective district administration.
He said that random testing will also be conducted inschools with the ratio of 100:1 students and secretary school education will bereviewing the situation on a weekly basis.