Thiruvananthapuram: Classes for grade X and XII begins on New Year Day today. Classrooms will run at half capacity on any given day with 50 percent in attendance and only one student seated per bench, the Education Department instructed. In schools where number of students exceed 300, the Education Dept Director K Jeevanbabu, advised 25 percent student attendance per day, as the optimum rate.
Other instructions
● Schools must arrange for masks, sanitizers and digital thermometer.
● For those unable to attend classes, lessons must be made available online.
● Students should be allowed for classes only with prior written consent from their parents.
● Digital classes for X std will end on 10th Jan and that for XII on the 30th.
● In the first week, classes will be conducted for three hours in the morning and for another three, up to 3 pm after noon.
● Shift arrangements may be introduced if necessary.
● Students must observe safe distance of 2-metre from one another.
● Students must avoid eating together. Students must not share food, water and other things used in the class with one another.
● Doorknobs at classrooms, dusters, etc should be sanitised every 2 hours.
● Health checkup should be arranged for teachers and students if need be.
● Safe distance is a must in school vans. Also students entering the van should be thermal-checked and wearing of masks ensured.
● Counseling should be made available for students who might need emotional assistance.
● For students who might need special help, resource teachers must be deployed to take classes at houses.
Additional Guidelines from Health Dept
● Students should not avoid attending school from undue fear
● Enclosed spaces are conducive to pathogens, hence, the classroom windows should be left at least half-open at all times.
● Students must not share pens, pencil and such other items with one another.
● Students, teachers and other staff who might have cold, cough, breathing difficulty, fever or other illnesses or are in contact with similarly ill persons, must not come to school.
● Those seeking more details may contact nearest govt hospital or contact disha at numbers 1056, 0471-2552056.
● Each student should get their own separate water bottle. Also, there should be no sharing of food or snacks.
● Students must sit far apart while having their tiffins.
● Students must not throng to form crowd at washrooms.
● It is advisable to use a different mask after food interval.
● On reaching home, students must not put away masks and other items carelessly. They should wash hands and bathe before interacting with others.
● Students attending school must not interact too closely with small children or aged members of their homes.
● Students must eat well, drink plenty of water and get 8 hours of sleep.
