MHRD Guidelines on Reopening of Schools Soon: Social Distancing Norms, New Seating Matrix, Staggered Classes Expected in Post-COVID-19 Era

MHRD Guidelines on Reopening of Schools Soon: As per the latest update, MHRD is likely to release a detailed set of guidelines for reopening of schools after COVID-19 lockdown ends. These guidelines are likely to continue following social distancing norms, with new seating matrix, staggered classes and revamped canteen and hostel structures to keep students safe, say media reports. Reports claim that MHRD officials have been busy compiling detailed guidelines that need to be followed to ensure safety of the students after schools reopen in the post COVID-19 era. The Ministry has roped in officials from Department of School Education and Literacy – a department which is now headed by recently appointed Anita Karwal, who until then was serving as the CBSE Chairperson.

Social Distancing Norms to Remain In Place

Earlier in the week, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' had also hinted that the ministry is working on detailed guidelines that will ascertain the rules of business for schools and pave the way for their reopening after the threat of COVID-19 recedes. As part of this, social distancing norms which have been put in place right now are likely to continue in near future, to help students maintain physical distance between each other while at school. MHRD has already noted that safety of the students remains its top priority and therefore, it will continue implementing social distancing norms at school level after COVID-19 lockdown period as well.

New Seating Arrangements, Staggered Classes

To ensure that students do not over crowd school campuses at the same time, the Ministry is planning to prescribe new seating matrix that will help students maintain proper distance between each other in the class. Moreover, the seating arrangements will also ensure that if any one student is infected with any disease, it doesn’t spread to others in the class. Typically, a school classroom consists of 40 students, and a single seating / bench is shared by two students. If social distancing norms are to be followed, MHRD and schools will have to rework the seating matrix and also develop additional seating space for students.

Staggered Classes

Another important change that will be evident after the lockdown ends and schools reopen in the country is about the staggered timing of the classes. To avoid crowding of students at the same time on school campus, MHRD might prescribe schools to adopt a staggered class timetable that allows students to attend classes at different times there by helping maintain physical distance between each other. However, in order to implement staggered class timings, schools will have to rework their academic calendar and also ensure that teacher’s schedule is managed in accordance with the revised calendar.