Thiruvananthapuram: Schools across Kerala began normal functioning from Monday. As many as 47 lakh students returned to schools for regular academic sessions after nearly two years of shutdown in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Online classes had replaced the conventional classroom studies in the interregnum.
This is the first time after March 2020 that schools are restarting with full student strength in classrooms.
Classes for Standard 1 to 12 will be held from morning to evening at a stretch as it was in the pre-Covid era. Classes will be held on all Saturdays till March end except on public holidays.
There will be no shift-based classes from today. The only exception allowed is for the pre-primary section where classes will be held shift-wise with 50 percent student strength from morning to afternoon.
Elaborate preparations, including a mega cleaning and disinfection drive were conducted to welcome the students.
Though Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty had made clear that it is not mandatory for students to attend in-person classes, he expressed hope that more children are likely to turn up for in-person classes than the few who did when schools reopened briefly before the Omicron wave had them retreating back to online mode of learning.
"Even if only a few students attend school initially, the number is likely to increase in the coming days," the minister said citing how students are raring to be back in classrooms again among their friends and the dipping COVID threat.
At least 7.5 lakh students attend higher secondary schooling while almost 66,000 are in vocational higher secondary schools.
Online classes will be made available to the rest who can't make it to schools yet, the minister clarified. He had also directed the schools to ensure this.
"The priority is to complete classes in a timely manner and conduct exams on time," Sivankutty said.
He has also said schools can conduct additional classes to finish the syllabus on time.
Though schools had resumed classes for a brief period in November, the Omicron wave that hit Kerala towards the tailend of 2021 saw several schools forced to shut and students retreating back to the online mode of learning. Even during these short restarts, only a handful of students attended the in-person classes.
The directive is applicable to all schools, including those following CBSE and ICSE syllabuses.
However, the pre-primary sections will continue to function with 50 per cent attendance.
Mid-day meals will be provided for students from the pre-primary section to grade eight.
The Education and Health Departments in Kerala have issued guidelines considering the full-fledged reopening of schools.
The main instructions of the Education Department include:
Ensure cleanliness: Areas including classrooms, school premises, water tanks, wells, kitchen and vehicles should be disinfected.
Ward off reptiles: Ensure that snakes and other reptiles are not present in schools.
Safe construction: Schools carrying out construction activities should put in place special safety measures.
COVID-19 protocols: Parent-Teacher Association meetings should be held to enlighten parents about these protocols and guide their children to follow them in school.
Joint effort: Ensure cooperation of local body representatives, police, Health authorities and Excise while schools function. The police and the excise have to be alert against the drugs mafia.
Disease-prevention: Thermal scanners and sanitizers should be utilized. All windows and doors have to be opened during classes.
Instructions to class teachers: They have to monitor the students’ health, COVID-19 status, situation at home and transportation. Moreover, psychological support should be offered to students. The syllabus too has to be covered as per the new time-table. Online classes are not compulsory, but could be resorted to if needed. Differently-abled and sick children staying at home should be helped. Mid-day meals too have to be served. Scholarships and grants for students have to be made available.
“No action will be taken against students over lack of attendance. There is no compulsion over school uniforms too,” said Education Minister V Sivankutty.
The major directives of the Health Department are:
Disease: Do not attend school if suffering from fever, cough, cold and breathlessness. This applies not only to students but also teachers and other staff.
Vaccine: Teachers, non-teaching employees and bus staff should have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. All students aged above 15 years also have to be vaccinated.
Masks: Wear masks from home. Don’t pull it down below the mouth while speaking. Avoid wet and soiled masks.
Hands: Wash hands regularly. Don’t touch eyes, nose or mouth without washing hands.
Sharing: Do not share food, water or study materials. While having food, maintain a distance of at least 2 m from others. Clean hands with soap and water or sanitizer after using the washroom.
Bath: Take a bath immediately after reaching home from school. Do not interact with anybody at home before the bath. Also wash masks and clothes used in school. In case symptoms of COVID-19 are seen, wear a mask at home.
Exams as usual
Annual exams will be conducted for classes from 1 to 9 in the first week of April.
Model examinations for SSLC, Plus Two and Vocational Higher Secondary will start from March 16.
The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) would decide the guidelines of the exam.
A special plan of action would be prepared to ensure that the lessons are completed before the exam.