Educational institutions in Himachal outside containment zones to remain closed till September 30

Tribune News Service

Shimla September 19

With a vast majority of parents unwilling to send their children to schools in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic, the Himachal Pradesh government is treading cautiously and has decided to keep schools, colleges and coaching institutions closed till September 30, 2020.

However, the government has decided to call fifty per cent teaching and non-teaching staff from September 21 in the areas outside the containment zones. The state government has also given an option to the students of Class X to XII to visit schools for taking guidance from teachers, but it would be mandatory for them to get permission from the parents to visit the schools.

There would be no regular classes in schools, colleges and coaching institutions till end of September but online teaching/tele-counselling and related work in area outside the cantonment zones would be permitted from September 21 subject to strict adherence to Stranded Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Director of General of Health Services, said an official spokesman.

The education department has prepared a tentative plan for opening schools in a phased manner for Class IX to XII, depending on fresh guidelines of MHA and Union Health ministry but both the parents and the government are not ready to take any risk.

However, it is clear that the schools are unlikely to open for children of Class I to VIIII and nursery and elementary classes. The government is contemplating to open the professional colleges and start post graduate classes after the result of final year of under graduate courses is declared as examinations are already underway and expected to be concluded by second week of October.