PATNA: Education minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Saturday said educational institutions in the state would reopen phase-wise after July 6 if the Covid-19 situation continued to improve.
The minister told this newspaper that the education department has worked out a phase-wise programme to reopen the educational institutions.
“In the first phase, the universities and colleges will be allowed to resume offline classes after July 6 with all Covid safety protocols.
Secondary (classes IX and X) and higher secondary (classes XI and XII) schools as well as coaching institutes will reopen in the second phase.
Middle and primary schools (classes I to VIII), on the other hand, will reopen in the third phase,” Choudhary said.
He added learning gap was a matter of concern and the government was planning to reopen the educational institutions keeping safety aspect in mind for the larger interests of the students.
The minister said on-campus classes would be conducted with 50% capacity on alternate days only with the consent of parents.
“Mode of learning should be both online and offline to give flexibility to students,” Choudhary said, adding the educational institutions, both private and government, will have to follow the standard operating procedures earlier released by the department for the safety of students and staff.
“Wearing face masks, use of hand sanitiser and maintenance of social distancing will be mandatory in schools, colleges and coaching institutes.
The educational institutions are expected to make necessary arrangements to resume physical classes.
The entire campus will have to be sanitised on a regular basis for the containment of the virus.
Students may have to attend classes on alternate days.
Staggered timings will have to be maintained for entry and exit too,” he said.
The minister said schools would also act as vaccination centres and the department has asked officers at district and block levels to ensure that teachers make people aware about the importance of getting vaccinated.
Educational institutions in the state have remained closed in the state since April 19 following second wave of Covid pandemic.