Odisha May Adopt Odd-Even Formula As Schools & Colleges Set To Reopen

Representative image; courtesy: PTI

Bhubaneswar: Following a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in Odisha, the government is mulling reopening of schools and colleges on a priority basis. For schools and colleges to reopen, the state government is set to adopt standard operating procedure (SOP) to conduct offline classes.

If sources are anything to go by, the government is likely to adopt the odd-even formula to avoid gatherings. However, with several shifts, it will increase the burden on teachers.

The special relief commissioner (SRC) recently left the matter to the School and Mass Education department to take a call on the reopening of schools for students of Classes IX to XII.

The Directorate of Higher Secondary Education has also ordered the principals of all government/private Higher Secondary schools in Odisha to sanitise and clean the campuses.

Following the direction, the process of sanitisation has already been taken up across the state.

The Higher Education department has also allowed universities to reopen laboratories only for research scholars (PhD), M.Phil students and post-graduate students.

“Discussions and preparations of SOPs are underway and we will reveal the details about it at the right time,” School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash was quoted as saying by Odisha TV.

BJB Junior College principal, Ranjan Kumar Bal said, “Cleaning work is going on by outsourced agency. The classrooms are ready to begin classes.”

“Despite delay, it is a welcome step by the government. As per the direction, sanitisation work is in progress. When students come to the campus, more sanitisation will be carried out before they are allowed into the classrooms,” Principal of Sulagna Residential Plus II Junior College, Harekrushna Giri was quoted.