Govt approves resumption of Community Classes for school children

Srinagar, June 16: The J&K government has approved resumption of community classes by teachers amid the closure of educational institutions in view of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The order in this regard was issued by the Principal Secretary School Education Department B K Singh on Wednesday.

   

Notably, the school education department earlier decided to prioritise setting up of the community schools for the children up to class 12th who do not have access to the internet and smartphones and remain unavailable the online classes.

However, later the decision was put on hold to avoid gathering of students in community classes.

With the dip in COVID-19 positive cases in J&K, the government has now decided to resume the community classes for school children.

“Community classes shall be taken in right earnest besides Tele and Radio classes shall be made more effective,” the government order reads.

The order reads that the schools were closed in view of the advisory for staying home to contain the pandemic of COVID-I9 and accordingly physical classes were not conducted across JKUT.

Also, all the examinations including JK Board remaining papers were cancelled as well.

The government has now put in place the alternate arrangements to avoid academic losses of the students.

“On the basis of current assessment of COVID-I9 in JKUT, it is hereby ordered that all schools shall remain closed till June 30. But, such staff of education institutions as are needed by the concerned District Disaster Management authorities or District Magistrates for official duties shall not be exempted from duties on account of this order,” the order reads

The order has instructed the teachers to continue the online classes with its daily reporting to the higher ups of the department.

As already reported by this newspaper, the Community School as per the previous instructions of the government should invariably function in the open area or ground where the students can sit almost two metres apart from each other. In case of non-availability of such space, staggered schedule or shift timings and student rotation can be an option to run the classes.

The department has directed the school heads to frame a local committee for each community school consisting of parents, VEC members, SMC members besides roping in other prominent persons from the habitation to monitor and support the community school.

Also, the teachers who have to travel a long distance for reaching their school have been asked to teach in a community school in proximity of their residence.

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