Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 20
The state government has issued SOPs for re-opening of schools, colleges and technical institutions in Nagaland for conduct of regular classes for students.
The state government has permitted the resumption of conduct of regular classes for students of classes 11 and 12 in all the schools in Nagaland from August 2, subject to all the teachers and non-teaching staff having been fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against COVID-19, or having taken the first dose of vaccine at least 15 days prior to reopening.
In an order issued on July 19, Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam noted that there is a need to take further measures for preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19 as schools reopen in order to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and all others concerned. As such, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 were been issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22 (2) (b) and Section 22(2)(h) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, for strict compliance by all concerned throughout the state of Nagaland.
Guidelines for schools
As per the SOPs, schools will be allowed to reopen with the maximum allowed percentage of attendance of students in any class on a particular day set at 50% for classes 11 and 12. All the teachers and non-teaching staff should be fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against COVID-19, or should have taken the first dose of vaccine against COVID-19, and at least 15 days should have passed since taking the first dose, the order stated.
The schools planning to re-open shall submit the list of all the teaching / non-teaching staff along with the details of the vaccination status, as well as all the arrangements being made for ensuring adherence to the provisions of this SOP to the respective District Task Force (DTF) through the District Education Officer concerned.
The schools shall continue with the present system of online teaching while making preparations and awaiting clearance from the DTF for re-opening for conduct of the regular classes.
Colleges and technical institutions
The state government also issued SOPs for reopening of colleges and technical institutions for conduct of regular classes for students.
It stated that the state government has permitted the re-opening of the campuses and holding of regular classes in all the colleges and technical institutions in Nagaland from July 26 subject to all the teachers and non-teaching staff having been fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against COVID-19, or having taken the first dose of vaccine against COVID-19, and at least 15 days have passed since taking the first dose.
The in-house skill development institutes/establishments planning to resume teaching / training activity should submit a list of all the teachers/trainers/assistants/non-teaching staff along with the details of the vaccination status as well as the arrangements being made for ensuring adherence to the provisions of this SOP to the respective DTF, and only after getting clearance from the DTF will open up the institute, the order stated.
Generic preventive measures
School authorities have been directed to ensure that physical distancing of at least 6 feet is followed. Other measures include; use of face covers / masks to be made mandatory, frequent hand washing with soap, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) wherever feasible. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited, the order stated.
The students, who are 18 years of age and above, and have not taken any dose of vaccine against COVID-19, may be advised to get vaccinated at the earliest.
All schools shall specifically ensure the seating arrangement at a distance of 6 feet between chairs, desks, etc.
Schools shall prepare alternate day routine for classes. For example: Monday, Wednesday, Friday for class XI, and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for classes XII, etc.
Schools outside the containment zones only shall be allowed to open. Further, students, teachers and employees living in containment zones will not be allowed to attend schools.
Students, teachers and employees shall also be advised not to visit areas falling within containment zones.
Instead of biometric attendance, alternative arrangements for contactless attendance shall be made by the school administration.
Assemblies, sports and events that can lead to overcrowding are strictly prohibited.
Only asymptomatic persons (teachers, employees and students) to be allowed in the premises, the order stated.
Proper crowd management in the parking lots, in corridors and in elevators—duly following physical distancing norms shall be organized and if transportation facility is being managed by the institution, proper physical distancing, sanitization of transport vehicles / buses (when permitted to ply) with 1% sodium hypochlorite, shall be ensured.
Further, the drivers and attendants should be fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against COVID-19, or should have taken the first dose of vaccine against COVID-19, and at least 15 days should have passed since taking the first dose.
Hostels may be opened only in such cases where it is necessary while strictly observing the safety and health preventive measures. The SOPs stated that teaching materials, computers, laptops, printers, shall be disinfected with 70% alcohol wipes.
The order stated that any violation of the provision of the SOPs will attract as per legal provisions against the management and the school/institution.
