Assam educational institutions ready to reopen from September 1: State Education Minister

While the state government is all set with its plan of reopening the school in September, the final decision depends on the Union Home Ministry.

Assam government is prepping up to reopen educational institutions in the state from September 1. However, the final decision will depend on the Union Home Ministry, said Assam Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Talking to the media, the minister said that it would be compulsory for all teachers and employees of the schools to get themselves tested for COVID-19 between August 21 and 30. "Those teachers and employees testing negative for coronavirus must attend their place of postings from September 1 onwards, otherwise they would be treated as 'on leave without pay'," he said.

Mr Sarma further talked about the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) prepared by the state government for educational institutions and said that these would be circulated, once the Centre's decision was received. While discussing the government’s planning regarding reopening the schools, the minister earlier said that after the reopening of the educational institutions, classes would be held in a pre-scheduled routine in open spaces, including the playground, and courtyard of the school for students of Classes 5 to 8. Students in Classes 9 and 11 would attend classes in their classrooms for twice a week while those in Classes 10 and 12 would attend classes for four days a week. Around 15 students would be allowed to be present in the class at a time. He also stated that the schools would remain shut for students up to Class 4 until September end.