SAYS SAWANT ...
>> Physical distancing and other norms specified in the MHA SOPs will be followed
>> School managements as well as PTAs will be taken on board to finalize the nitty-gritties of re-suming classes
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PANAJI
Continuing to base its decisions related to the pandemic purely on instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) dictated by the Centre, the government of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has set its sights on re-opening schools from September 21.
Sawant said details have not been finalized but the government is contemplating starting classes for students of Classes IX to XII in High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools.
“We have not yet finalized anything. We are contemplating starting classes for 9th to 12th standard students," the chief minister said.
Sawant seems to have latched on to the Union Home Ministry SOPs issued on September 7 for re-opening schools and colleges even as epidemiological data and rising deaths and new cases of Covid-19 in Goa are worrying.
Except for initially resisting and staying adamant on holding the Zilla Panchayat polls until the 'Janata Curfew' announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi coincided with the March 22 polling, Sawant's government has followed to the tee every SOP of the Centre giving little consideration to the local situation.
On the question of re-opening schools and Colleges now, Sawant said physical distancing and other norms specified in the MHA SOPs will be followed.
He however added that school managements as well as Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) will be taken on board to finalize the nitty-gritties of re-suming classes.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, meanwhile, raised the 'Community Transmission' alarm and warned that because of it the daily count of fresh cases could breach the 1000 mark.
Rane had voiced his opinion on Thursday that school children should be kept home for some more time and institutions should not be permitted to hold physical classes.
Schools and colleges are currently conducting academic work online, but the government is hardpressed to give these virtual instructional hours the official academic stamp due to connectivity issues faced by sections of the student community.
In several cases, the dreaded virus has also hit the teaching community putting students, parents and school managements in spots of bother on the question of resuming physical classes.
