Lower Primary Classes To Reopen From March 15
Srinagar, Mar 6 (GNS): Directorate of School Education Kashmir on Saturday postponed the proposed reopening of schools in the valley for lower primary classes by a week even as it announced that students from 6th to 8th shall open from next week.
The schools resumed class work for classes 9-12 from March 1 while as standard 1st to 8 were scheduled to resume class work from March 8.
“It is hereby ordered that the educational institutions including recognised private schools shall open physically in a staggered manner for academic activities as per following schedule: class 6th to 8th from 8th March and K.G to class 5th to with effect from March 15,” reads an order by DSEK, copy o which lies with GNS.
Last Monday, students from 9th to 12th standard attended schools in Kashmir Valley amid COVID-19 protocol.
The schools are opening in staggered manner and many schools have applied an odd-even formula which entails having only 50% of students on campus on any given day.
Teachers of the elementary classes (up to class 8) have been asked to attend the schools from March 1 for preparation while students shall physically attend the classes from March 8.
Earlier, colleges opened in Kashmir more than 11 months after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic that had prompted closure of educational institutions across the valley.
Even before the covid-19 forced their closure, the educational institutes remained closed for nearly a year on account of the security and communication clampdown following the revocation of the Article 370 on 5 August 2019.
The educational institutions reopened in summer zone areas of Jammu last month. While the educational institutes for 9 to 12th had started from February 1, the class work for the students of classes 1 to 8 resumed a week later.
In the revised guidelines on COVID containment measures issued in January this year, the administration had allowed schools, colleges, higher educational institutions, technical or skill development institutions to reopen from February 1.
The government has time and again stressed that the notified Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) guidelines shall remain unaltered and shall be followed in “letter and spirit”. (GNS)