#Unlock1, At times when everything is reopening, are you wondering how is Indian Government Planning to reopen Schools? Readout to know more.

With Unlock 1.0, India is starting to open up public access after more than two months. The planning for opening up schools/institutions across various states are being explored. In a recent development, the Union HRD Ministry is actively working on a proposed framework, which states that the in-school learning time would be cut down to 100 days (from 220 days erstwhile) and 600 hours (6 hours a day). Additionally, an equal proportion of 100 days and 600 hours would be spent on active learning hours at home through e-learning platforms. Lastly the remaining 20 days (or 120 hours) - 2 days a month would likely be put aside for interventions from doctors and counselors or ensuring the emotional well-being of children.

HRD Ministry is soon going to announce the ‘Reopening of Schools’, which is also expected to ask schools to be more focussed on ensuring underprivileged students to be given access to e-learning facilities and to help them adapt to the new format of e-learning.

For Attendance, it is proposed that at max 30%-50% of students attend schools with double shifts and a feasible graded format. The primary classes may attend school twice a week while the secondary and senior-secondary classes may attend classes 2-4 days a week and 4-5 days a week respectively. It is advised to reduce a 46-minute class to 30 minutes. For some subjects, separate hour-long classes may be planned. Wherever possible, flexibility in attendance and sick leave is to be allowed. Students, with the consent of their parents, are to be promoted to study from their home itself. Proper E-learning protocols are proposed.

The HRD Ministry is likely to discourage pen-and-paper based assessments/examinations and instead, pitch for ‘non-stressful assessment’ viz-a-viz role play, presentation in classes, quizzes, project work, and portfolios at home. Well-being for staff and teachers is also proposed. Apart from counseling, schools would be advised to encourage yogic exercises and related activities to help students adapt physical distancing with the least stress.

For serving mid-day meals, separate guidelines will be issued, including daily thermal screening of cooks and helpers, mandating salt/turmeric washes for vegetables, monitored cooking, and ensuring disinfection of kitchen and serving area.

Wherever possible, outdoor classes are to be conducted. Class, Staff Rooms, Reception, etc to maintain 6 feet physical distance. Multiple exit areas and staggered entry/exit timings are to be planned. The school buses are to be sanitized twice daily. One seat one-child policy and no curtains in buses are to be strictly followed. Carpooling would be discouraged. School hostels are to provide quarantine facilities, good quality wifi for online learning, and temporary partitions to separate students. Only screened staff would be allowed to enter Hostels. Schools would be required to set up supplies for thermometers, masks, soaps, disinfectants, and other first-aid and COVID related measures.

A suggestive time for classes 1-8 is to be devised by NCERT. CBSE will prepare a revised curricular load for classes 9-12. School bags to be discouraged for students under class 5.

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