Schools, colleges ready to welcome students

FDE official says decision on buses and vans yet to be taken

ISLAMABAD:

With educational institutions in the federal capital set to welcome back students from tomorrow (Tuesday) all schools and colleges operated by the federal government (FG) in the city have said that they have completed the necessary preparations.

Schools in the federal capital, like in the rest of the country, were shut down in March to prevent the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic from spreading. However, with the number of cases subsiding, the federal government had decided to reopen educational institutions in phases from September 15.

In this regard, education officials under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) - who regulate public-run educational institutions in the city, said that the government has decided to rescind the weekly holiday for Saturdays to catch up on lost time and to safely schedule classes. Moreover, the recess for every class will be arranged in shifts to maintain social distancing and other protective standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined.

All students will be screened at the gates of the institutions before they are let inside, said FDE Academics Director Sadia Adnan, adding that students who show symptoms of flu and fever will not be allowed to enter schools and will be sent home.

Moreover, she said that directions to maintain social distancing of three to six feet between students have already been issued.

Adnan added that educational institutions will have to maintain multiple entry points to prevent crowding and bottlenecks at gates. Further, classes will be disinfected before classes commence every day.

Teachers and school staff will be responsible for keeping an eye on the children, she said. Adnan The FDE official advised parents to sensitise their children about the SOPs before sending them to schools.

Area Education Officers (AEOs) will ensure that these guidelines are strictly implemented by individually inspecting the educational institutions.

Those schools operating double-shifts will have to conduct classes in two sessions of four hours each.

Even though the government decided to reopen all educational institutions in phases, it has yet to decide on allowing buses and vans to run. While a decision in this regard is expected to be made later in the week, parents have been asked to pick and drop their children from schools until then.

The official added that the school management as well as parents have been required to play their respective roles with responsibility.

Rawalpindi SOPs

In neighbouring Rawalpindi, private schools have directed students to bring soaps and hand sanitisers from home.

Moreover, some parents said that have been receiving messages from the management of their child’s school to send packets of tissue paper, small towels or handkerchiefs, water bottles and lunch boxes with their children.

The parents complained that the private institutions are charging an additional Rs1,000 from students as “coronavirus fees” for making sanitary arrangements to prevent the virus from spreading.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2020.