Delhi government allowed reopening of all schools in the national capital region for class 10 and 12 students from January 18. All schools in the city have been shut physically since march 2019 to stop the spread of novel coronavirus. Physically schools will reopen after a 10 months of gap in the capital. The decision has been taken in view of upcoming CBSE board exams and the government has issued all the guidelines and precautions to be followed.
“In order to conduct activities pertaining to pre-board preparations and practical work, the head of government, aided and unaided recognised schools may call students of Classes X and XII only to school with effect from January 18, 2021,” in a curricular issued on wednesday, a senior official at the Directorate of Education (DoE) said.
According to government guidelines only the schools outside of the containment zone will be allowed to re-open and the students and teachers from the containment zone would not be allowed to join the classes. The schools have been instructed not to conduct any physical outdoor activities. Also the school management is asked to follow all the covid related advisory issued by the government. In the campus physical distance should be maintained, will have staggered timings and have to maintain hygiene, among other Covid-19-appropriate guidelines already issued by the government. Also principals are asked to advise students nt to share books and stationery among them. Although, a record of children coming to the schools will be maintained but attende is not compulsory. Children will attend school only with the consent of their parents. While most of the schools have welcomed the decision, there is some concern among parents related to child’s health.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already announced the timeline of practical and written examinations. practical exams will begin from March 1 and written exams will be conducted between May 3 and June 10. While the pre-board exams of Class 12 will be conducted between March 3 and April 15, for Class 10 they will be held between April 1 and April 15, the circular started.
The Directorate of Education has asked schools to provide emotional and trauma support to students and teachers upon their return to the campus after 10 months. In delhi, over the past weeks a decrease in covid infections have been recorded.