Bhubaneswar: After reviewing the situation, the Principal Secretary to Government, School & Mass Education Department, Bishnupada Sethi has directed concerned officials to resume physical classes for Class I to VII students from February 28 instead of February 14.
Sethi has issued fresh instructions to the SPDs of OSEPA, OAVS, directors of Higher Secondary Education, Secondary Education, Elementary Education, the CHSE Chairman, the President, BSE, all Collectors and DEOs.
He said the Government has been pleased to announce re-opening of schools for Standard/ Class-I to VII with effect from February 14, 2022.
Subsequently, reports were received from various Collectors seeking additional time for undertaking cleaning, bush cutting, minor repairs and ensuring clean environment to the small school going children on the grounds that these schools had remained closed for nearly two years, Sethi said.
The Principal Secretary further said that the Collectors have also pointed out that in the meantime, the Election process for PRIs, 2022 is going on. Most of the polling personnel engaged for the election consists of teaching and non-teaching staff of this Department.
These polling personnel are undergoing training and engaged in other related election works. Moreover, many of the school campuses will be used as polling stations where there will be heavy movement of polling personnel including police and general public including voters, he said.
“This may create health hazards to the school going small children on account of COVID -19. Based on the reports of the Collectors, the Government has now been pleased to announce that the students should come to attend physical classes from February 28, 2022,” he said in the letter.
However, the schools for Class-I to VII will reopen from February 14, but students may not come to school. They can attend online classes, he further announced.
Sethi directed that all the teachers should come to school and ensure thorough cleaning and sanitization of the campus.
