Odisha Schools to Reopen from Today for Class 10 and 12 Students, Check SOPs, Guidelines to be Followed Here

Odisha School Reopening Update: Finally, after a gap of nearly 9 months, Schools in Odisha state are all set to welcome students back onto their campuses from today i.e. from 8^th January 2021. As announced earlier by the state government, Schools for Class 10 and 12 Students will reopen from today in Odisha. For now, schools are being opened only for those students who are to appear for HSC and Plus Two Board Exams in the coming days. As part of the reopening process, the state government has instructed the health department to conduct regular health check-ups for students in education institutions across the state.

Regular Classes for 100 Days Before Board Exams

As per the announcement made earlier, the state government plans to hold 100-days of in-person physical classes for the students who are due to appear for the board exams. The regular classroom based learning for Class 10 students will be held from 8^th January to 26^th April 2021. On similar lines, classroom based learning for Class 12 students will be organized from 8^th January to 28^th April 2021. Only after students have completed these mandatory 100-days of classroom training HSC and Plus Two Board Exams would be held in the state.

To ensure completion of 100-days of classroom teaching, the state government has decided to do away with holiday on Saturday and Sundays. As per the statement issued by School and Mass Education Minister Samir Dash “There will be no holiday on Saturday and Sundays. Only Observation Days will be holidays. The DEOs have also been asked to appoint teachers if required.”

COVID-19 Precautionary Guidelines, SOPs

To ensure safe return of students to the school campus, the state government has issued specific COVID-19 precautionary guidelines and standard operating procedures that school administration, teachers and students need to adhere to strictly. As part of the guidelines, complete school premises, including open areas of the school campus are to be sanitized before the reopening. Social distancing is to be followed by students and teachers while on campus and in accordance with that seating arrangements have also been changed with reduction in the number of students allowed in a single classroom. Sanitizer bottles should be installed in schools and should also be carried by all students, teachers, and non-teaching staff to schools.

Moreover, school administrators have been asked to closely monitor the health of students and teachers and be in constant touch with local health workers and doctors. In case of any one found to be showing any symptom, the person is to be directly referred to them.