Class IX-XII students can visit schools outside hotspots

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20

Partially modifying the Unlock 4.0 guidelines in compliance with the directives of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Punjab Government today allowed students of classes IX to XII to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from teachers.

Yesterday, the government, while allowing opening of higher education institutions for PhD scholars and postgraduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratories and experimental works from September 21, had stated schools, colleges and coaching centres would remain closed.

The permission today would be subject to the written consent of parents/guardians from September 21 as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on September 8.

The state Home Department has also permitted skill or entrepreneurship training in national skill training institutes, industrial training institutes (ITIs), short-term training centres registered with the National Skill Development Corporation, State Skill Development Missions or other ministries of the Government of India or state governments.

Also, activities of National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Developments (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers have been allowed from September 21, subject to strict adherence of the SOPs.

The MHA orders issued on August 29 and the subsequent guidelines issued by the state government on September 9 imposing additional restrictions, including curfew, in urban areas on Sundays would continue to be in operation.