Bhubaneswar: Following the order of School and Mass Education Department, the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) has asked concerned district Collectors to reopen Class-IX in Special Schools and hostels for the students.
SSEPD Director Bratati Harichandan has written a letter to the District Collectors of Balasore, Cuttack, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Koraput, Keonjhar, Puri, Kandhamal, Sundargarh and Khordha for reopening of Class-IX in Special Schools and hostels.
“Steps may please be taken for reopening of Class-IX of Special Schools and hostels functioning thereunder subject to some conditions,” Ms.Harichandan said in his letter.
As per the letter, physical infrastructure available in the special schools to maintain Covid protocol and local Covid situation may please be taken into account while reopening of schools and hostels functioning thereunder.
The Collectors have been asked to strictly follow the instructions issued by the School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department on reopening of schools & hostels.
District Social Security Officers (DSSOs) concerned may be instructed to regularly monitor the functioning of schools and hostels and submit a monthly report on the attendance of students and additional arrangement made if any for residential accommodation of the students keeping in view social distancing norms, he said.
An officer preferably Additional District Magistrate (ADM) or Sub-collector may be deputed to personally visit the institution in their respective district and ensure that necessary safety procedures are implemented, the Director further said.
The DSSOs have been asked to personally visit the institutions before reopening of special schools and submit a report regarding safety measures.
On August 5, S&ME Principal Secretary Satyabrata Sahu had directed to reopen Class-IX for classroom teaching from August 16 with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
The teaching hour for Class-IX students is going on in all Government schools from 9 AM to 12.30 PM all days excluding Sundays and public holidays.
The students are allowed to attend the classes either on online mode or offline mode in consultation with their parents. Attendance is not mandatory for students in offline mode.
The schools have been reopened for the Class X and Class XII students from July 26 following improvement in the Covid-19 situation in the State. Later the classes of Class XI students will commence from September 15, sources said.