Bhubaneswar: All schools across 30 Districts of Odisha have been reopened for physical classes for students from Standard -VIII to XII today, thanks to the decision of the State Government to open schools.
Principal Secretary School & Mass Education, Bishnupada Sethi, who took up the efforts for opening of schools in an organized manner in Post Covid Pandemic for benefit of the students. Team School & Mass Education took proactive steps for opening physical classes.
On the first day 14,42,790 students attended classes at 37,533 schools including those run by Schools & Mass Education Department, SC, ST Development Department and private organizations. A total of 24,45,407 students have been enrolled in these schools.
In the district of Deogarh, the school attendance in Higher Secondary was maximum with 85 per cent while there was a good attendance in Higher Secondary level in some other districts including Balasore, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Keonjhar and Sambalpur.
In Secondary classes, Deogarh district attained 91 per cent of attendance while districts like Angul, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Ganjam, Rayagada and Bargarh have also witnessed good attendance.
Highest of 77 per cent students attended in Elementary Schools (Class-VIII) in Kendrapara district. Other districts including Angul, Bolangir, Cuttack, Deogarh and Keonjhar have also registered good attendance in Class VIII on the first day.
Moreover, a good number of students also attended classes at the Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.
Both doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been inoculated to all teachers and other staff in all schools while 55 per cent of 15 to 18 years school students have received vaccine dose, so far. The remaining students will also be covered under the vaccination drive soon, officials said.
Prior to the opening of schools, teachers and other staff undertook cleaning and sanitization work on the weekend. The reopening of the schools has been appreciated by students, parents and community in particular.
The teachers have been instructed to adhere to Covid Appropriate Behavior like Thermal Scanning, Physical Distancing and Wearing of Mask. The teachers and supervisory officials have further been asked to report any health related issues of the children and the staff to appropriate authorities for urgent attention. A special Cell has been opened at OSEPA and in the S & ME Department to monitor the current school reopening issues.
