Rajasthan Govt to upgrade 703 Primary Schools to Upper-Primary Schools, confirms CM Gehlot

Rajasthan Upper-Primary Schools: As per the updates, the Rajasthan government came to a decision to upgrade 703 government primary schools in the state to upper primary level. In a tweet from his official handle, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said a decision has been taken to upgrade 703 government primary schools to the upper primary level in accordance with the budgetary provisions. He further said the decision will make education accessible to students, especially girls, in their immediate neighbourhood. Also, the Rajasthan government will reopen schools, colleges and educational institutions from 1st September 2021. Educational institutes were closed because of lockdown in view of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

Parent's Consent Required To Attend School

Students who want to attend offline classes will need parental consent. No student will be forced to attend the offline classes. However, the online classes will continue for students who do not wish to attend the regular classes. Morning assembly, for the time being, has been restricted to maintain social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols, the notification read. Students will only be allowed after a proper screening for COVID-19.

COVID-19 Guidelines

The schools will be opening at a 50% capacity, the state government has already released SOPs for reopening schools. As per the SOP, all staff members and teachers will have to be vaccinated with at least the first dose before the school reopens. Schools are required to follow COVID-19 necessary protocol which includes sanitation, compulsory masks, disinfection etc.

Rajasthan school reopening anticipation by the government has led to the formation of an expert committee. The committee has drafted Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel has been formed by the government keeping in mind the health and well-being of the kids. Recently, the panel asked for suggestions from the District Child Welfare Committee. The suggestions have been implemented while making the final COVID-19 SOP.

Closure of Schools in Rajasthan

To ensure the safety of children, after schools re-opened in Rajasthan in January 2021 the child commission inspected all the private and government schools. The inspection was done to see that the educational institutions are abiding by the COVID-19 protocols. By April 2021, with the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the government had to close all educational institutions.