Punjab School Reopening News: Schools, Coaching Institutes to Reopen for Class 9 to 12 students from 15th October

Punjab School Reopening News: As per the latest update, the Punjab State Government has given its nod to allow reopening of schools and coaching institutes for Class 9 to 12 students starting from 15th October 2020 onwards. In line with the Unlock 5.0 guidelines of the Central Governments, Reopening of Schools will be done in a phased and graded manner. For now, the state government is planning to continue with the voluntary classes for school students and will not make attendance compulsory once the schools reopen. Moreover, students will be allowed to attend schools only with parental consent.

Online Classes to be Preferred Mode

While school reopening has been allowed by the state Education Department, the state government has instructed schools to continue online classes for students. In fact, state government has asked schools to promote online classes and virtual education as the preferred mode of education for school students and encourage its wider adoption.

Only 20 Students Per Section Allowed

As part of the revised guidelines and SOPs issued to facilitate reopening of schools in the state, the state government is planning to only allow 20 students from each section to attend the in-person or face to face classes, so that adequate social distance can be maintained. Moreover, the state government has issued guidelines for School Reopening in Punjab and allowed partial 3-hour classes each day as part of the SOPs. Other important guidelines and SOPs that are to be followed as part of the school reopening in Punjab are listed below:

• Schools will be opened for only 3 hours per day only
• Only Students of Class 9 to 12 will be allowed to attend school initially
• Only 20 students from each section will be allowed to attend classes at a time
• Adherence to safety measures including social distancing, personal hygiene, wearing of masks, and sanitization is mandatory
• No Two Students are allowed to sit on the same bench
• Adequate distance to be maintained between two benches
• Teachers may be called in 2 shifts of 3 hours each