It is learnt that the state government’s steering committee on Covid-19 management has decided to clear schools across all standards in Goa for opening from November 22. The Goa Medical College Dean has said that the third wave was more likely to be non-consequential. Since schools are set to commence, all precautionary measures need to be in place. It is understood that schools will have to follow staggering timings, especially in education clusters in order to ensure children avoid excessively milling with each other. As regards the Covid-19 related SOPs, while the children could be made to follow social distancing by allotting one bench to each student it does not seem advisable to force the children to wear the mask during the school hours as it could cause breathing problems. It is observed that children are very active in the school buses. Following the norm of one student per seat in the school bus would be advisable. The bus could carry out more trips. If one of the school teachers travels in the same bus then the teacher or the bus conductor needs to maintain discipline while travelling.
