Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy today said that the schools and junior colleges of the state, that were reopened after a 10-month-long closure, recorded 60% attendance.
"The educational institutions were reopened in Telangana today after
extensive preparations. They have been sanitised, and the administrations of each institution has taken steps to implement all the requisite Covid-19 safety protocols. 60% of the students attended the on-site classes today," Reddy noted.
Speaking furhter on the measures taken by the schools to ensure safety amdist the pandemic, she said, "We have also asked the schools and colleges to implement stringent social distancing norms. Under this, only 20 students have been allotted to each classroom, and they have been asked to maintain a distance of six feet from each other. All the other necessary measures have also been taken by the authorities of the institution under the supervision of the concerned district administration - the Collectors across districts actively monitored the arrangements that were made. Further, in every government school, five committees, constituting three teachers each, have been formed to ensure that all the students present for classes adhere to Covid-19 norms like wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and keeping the premises clean. And, each institution has access to clean water, an isolation room, and sanitation facilities."
The minister also expressed her appreciation for the parents of the students for sending their wards for classes despite the on-going pandemic on the instruction of the state government.
Addressing the matter of the recommencement of on-site classes for the junior and middle school students, and college and university students in Telangana, she said, "A decision to resume off-line classes for other students will be taken after the classes for grades 9 and 10 take off successfully. For UG, PG and professional courses, only 50% of the students would initially be allowed to attend on-site lessons after the reopening."
While the schools and junior colleges across the state wore a festive look today, as they were filled with life after a gap of nearly ten months, ominous signs that the pandemic was still not over lingered everywhere - the body temperature of all the attending students was screened with thermal guns by the respective managements, for instance. And while most students seemed happy to be back in school, some reportedly expressed concerns about attending classes in the midst of the pandemic.