Punjab govt issues guidelines for opening of schools, coaching institutions from Oct 15

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12

The Punjab government on Monday decided to open more activities in the areas outside the containment zones after October 15.

A spokesperson of the Punjab government said decision has been taken to reopen schools and coaching institutions in a graded manner after October 15 subject to some conditions such as online/distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and be encouraged.

Apart from this, students of only classes 9 to 12 are permitted to attend schools/institutions with the parental consent of each student and without making attendance compulsory vis-a-vis attendance must not be enforced and must depend entirely on parental consent.

He added that schools which are being allowed to open after October 15 would have to mandatorily follow the SOPs to be issued by the state school education department in consultation with the Punjab health and family welfare department.

In addition, higher educational institutions only for research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratories/experimental works are permitted to open after October 15. For centrally-funded higher education institutions, the head of institution would satisfy herself/himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratories/experimental works.

Moreover, he said all other higher education institutions for instance, state universities and private universities are also permitted to open from October 15 only for research scholars (Ph.D) and post-graduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratories/experimental works.

Sharing details, he said swimming pools to be used for sportspersons are allowed to open after October 15 as per SOPs to be issued by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Besides this, Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions are allowed to open from October 15 as per SOPs issued by the Ministry of Commerce.

Furthermore, he stated that social/academic/sports/entertainment/ cultural/religious/political functions including weddings and funerals and other congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside containment zones only.

Such gatherings beyond the limit of 100 persons are permitted outside containment zones from October 15 subject to certain conditions such as in closed spaces, a maximum of 50% of the hall capacity is allowed with the ceiling of 200 persons. Wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitiser shall be mandatory.

He revealed that in case of open spaces, keeping the size of the ground/space in view, with the permission of the district magistrate and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, provision of thermal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer. Therefore, gatherings purely for entertainment shall not be permitted in excess of 100 persons.