Odd-Even approach taken to reopen Schools in Assam as of November 2: Unlock 5.0

Following COVID-19 guidelines Assam state is all set to reopen schools from today, November 2

According to officials of Assam Educational Department, Classes 6th to 12th have been allowed to attend school but they should adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. Schools have been shut for over seven months now due to the ongoing corona-virus pandemic.The officials have added a standard operating procedure (SOP) that has been issued by the government in this regard.

Schools are said to undergo an odd-even system to reduce the risk of contacting coronavirus, and help in minimizing the spread of the highly reactive COVID-19. Students practicing education in classes 6, 8 and 12 are told to attend classes in school from Monday. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are the days selected for students of classes 7, 9 and 11.

The press release issued by the government says: "All students would not come into the schools at a time and they would attend the schools in different batches in morning and afternoon shifts. Fixation of the first batch and second batch of students would be done by the head of the institution.The first batch of students would come at 8 AM and stay up to 12 noon and the second batch of students would come at 12:30 PM and stay up to 3:30PM."

Students who prefer online education will continue for students who prefer to attend online classes. Hostelers are still not granted permission to stay in hostels and all wardens are still suspended from duties. Sanitization of the school premises every weekend is an order given by the government itself.

Unlock 5.0 is possibly very risky with the allowing of students to come to educational institutions. The Coronavirus is a highly reactive disease and will take no time to spread throughout the school infecting everyone if not supervised. Students are reckless and outgoing, Little tiny tots of classes 6,7,8 would not really understand what a pandemic means. Unlock 5.0 is risky and should be supervised and practiced with extra caution.

If your child or loved ones are going to go to school from today make sure you sanitize them and their belongings after they come back home. Together we are stronger than even a pandemic.