Goa School Reopening: Schools in Goa reopen for classes 10, 12 amid strict COVID-19 protocols

The state government has directed all the schools in the state to strictly follow the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) like thermal screening of students, hand sanitising, wearing of masks, social distancing in classrooms.

Schools for Classes 10 and 12 across Goa reopened after being shut for more than seven months due to the COVID-19 outbreak, officials said. The state government has directed all the schools in the state to strictly follow the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) like thermal screening of students, hand sanitising, wearing of masks, social distancing in classrooms, they said.

The government had decided to allow the schools to reopen from November 21 onwards for Classes 10 and 12 in the initial phase. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio, had announced on November 4 that all the COVID-19 safety protocols would have to be followed by these institutions.

While speaking to a media house, the state education department said, "Schools in Goa reopened on Saturday morning; i.e. November 21 for Classes 10 and 12. The schools are adopting all the necessary SOPs to ensure that the classrooms are safe. The managements were informed in advance so that they can be ready to resume the classes."

The education department had consulted all the stakeholders, including parents, teachers and management before deciding to reopen schools, he said. A senior office-bearer of a city-based school said, "We have installed thermal guns at the entry point of the school. We have made it mandatory for the students to sanitise their hands."

"The strength of the classroom has been restricted, due to which we have to repeat the sessions. On the first day, the school attendance was thin as only half the students were asked to remain present," he said.

"Rest of the students would be called from next week onwards," he said, adding that the teachers will have to teach the same part at least five times in order to cover the entire batch.

The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) had already reduced the Goa Board Class 10 syllabus 2021  and Goa Board Class 12 syllabus 2021 by 30 per cent for the current academic year.

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