Suggestions & opinion on reopening of educational institutions

Basanta Lourembam
Considering the prevailing situation due to COVID-19 pandemic in  Manipur, some guidelines and suggestions for safe reopening of educational institutions are highlighted here to draw the attention of authority concerned and all the stakeholders. In this prevailing pandemic situation, before opening of educational institutions, we all must keep in views that safety and life of students are of utmost important than education. Therefore, it is everybody’s duty to frame and formulate broad and farsighted guidelines, suggestions and opinion for the well being of students in addition to the guidelines and SOP’s which are under operation and recommended by the Government and experts since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Precautionary measures
1) Sanitization of school class rooms and surrounding regularly; 2) Soap and water for hand wash be made available compulsorily; 3) To display Do’s and Don’ts poster in school campus to give awareness of Covid-19; 4) Compulsorily use of Face-Mask; 5) No school assembly/functions and gatherings; 6) Compulsorily reducing class size (upto a maximum of 30 students); 7) Arrangement of morning and evening sessions wherever necessary; 8) Shortening school duration (not more than 4 hours in a session); 9) Reducing number of periods; 10) Condensation of curriculum and syllabi; 11) Available trained staffs and nurses along with preventive care kits; 12) Introduce rotational system of attendance in class wise manner; 13) Abstain health problem students from attending schools; 14) Transportation means (Van, Bus, private transport system) are of serious concern.
Preferable time table for reopening
After Covid-19 situation in the state is control and the degree of risk is minimized, then educational institutions may be reopen on a trial phase wise manner.
Phase 1 : Reopening X and XII standards in 3rd week of August, 2020; Phase 2 : Reopening VIII, IX and XI standards subsequently in 1st week of September, 2020 if no risk and untoward incidence due to Covid-19 is notice in phase-I reopening of school; Phase 3 : Reopening University, Colleges and Higher and Technical Institutions in mid September 2020.
Contents of revised calendar
a) Class commencement : 3rd week of August, 2020; b) Session Closed : 2nd weed of Feb. 2020 for high and higher secondary schools; c) Possible working days : 100 to 120 days.; d) Final exam : Mid March 2021; e) Cancelling all holidays except Sundays to make-up the loss classes due to Covid-19 pandemic.
There should be an applicable policy reforms and financial assistance for safe operating along with wellness and protection of the most marginalize sections of the society covering the hill and valley areas.
Suggestions
1) To formulate and announced strict admission norms for class XI including private schools; 2) To reduce the intake capacity of students in every session; 3) To charged only 6 months tuition fee in school (private); 4) To facilitate the educational loan to students; 5) To promote students from primary upto class VII to the next level irrespective of their attendance in schools; 6) To strictly implement the new guidelines and rules in private Tuition centres, Coaching centres, Hostels and relevant areas; 7) Student from pre-nursery to Class – VII be exempted from attending school until the Covid-19 pandemic is fully contained in the state.
The reopening of schools and educational institutions must be base on an assessment of the associated benefits and risk to education, public health and socio-economic factors. If there is no practicable and effective guidelines and rules, the authority must relook the matter and must consult with all the stake holders. On the other hand if schools cannot relook as how they can reopen in a better way with improved teaching learning support for children including health, psychological support, water, sanitation and hygienic facilities, it is better to closed further the educational institutions noting the risks factors of Covid-19. Also, it is suggested that the government may consider to declare the ACADEMIC YEAR - 2020 as zero year. (Views expressed are personal. The author is from Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, Imphal)