Centre Issues New SOPs For Reopening Schools; Parents’ Nod Not A Must For Attending Classes

Bhubaneswar: In its revised guidelines for reopening of schools, the Centre has left it to the state governments and union territories to decide whether the consent of parents should be needed for students to attend physical classes.

According to the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, a nod from parents for students to attend schools in physical mode is no longer mandatory.

The state governments have also been directed to ensure a smooth transition from home-based schooling to a formal one by coming up with bridge courses.

The schools have been asked to identify students on the basis of their learning levels. They have been directed to introduce remedial programmes. In order to prevent students from dropping out, the ministry has also requested the states to provide relaxation in the state Right to Education (RTE) norms for detention in classes V and VIII.

However, attendance must not be enforced and depend on the consent of parents, it added.

The guidelines also state that the Ministry of Education has started a programme called ‘Manodarpan’, involving a wide range of activities, to provide psychosocial support to the students. A national tele-helpline number 8448440632 has been launched to counsel students, parents and teachers to cope with the situation.

Meanwhile, the clamour for reopening of schools grew stronger in different states. Demanding the resumption of physical classes, about 250 educational institutes in Uttar Pradesh have threatened to stop holding online classes. They have also warned of withdrawing support during the upcoming state Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh if physical classes are not resumed.

According to a report published in hindustantimes.com, president of Unaided Private Schools Association Anil Agarwal had urged the state government to reopen the schools with immediate effect. “The government should allow the children of classes IX to XII to be called in the school so that they can take the examination,” said one of the members of the association was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Association of Private Schools, Uttar Pradesh had also written a letter to the Chief Minister urging him to reopen the schools in the state. The schools in Uttar Pradesh had remained shut since February 7. Earlier, a private school body in Delhi had written to the Lieutenant Governor, demanding reopening of schools.

Similar demands had been raised in Odisha. However, several other states have already resumed physical classes with certain conditions.