With significant improvement in Covid-19 situation, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday ordered the resumption of in-person/ offline classes in educational institutions from Monday after they were called off in March 2020 due to global pandemic Covid-19.
In an order issued by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR) which reads, “All Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics, ITIs, etc. shall commence routine offline (physical attendance) teaching after ensuring readiness for enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour and Standard Operating Procedures from 14.2.2022. All the students between 15-17 age groups coming to attend regular offline classes must carry a vaccination certificate with them.
”As per the order, all Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics, ITIs, etc in entire J&K along with schools from 9-12th standard shall commence routine offline (physical attendance) from Monday.
It further added, “All Summer Zone Schools in J&K shall open in a phased manner. Classes from 9th to 12th can commence routine offline teaching from 14.02.2022. All the students of the 15-17 age group coming to attend regular offline classes must carry a vaccination certificate with them. Head of Institutions must ensure vaccination of every student above 15 years of age in their respective Institutions.
” “The offline mode of teaching for remaining junior classes in Summer Zone Schools shall begin from 21.02.2022. Head of Institutions shall be responsible for adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour in their respective schools and prepare proper plans for the same”, reads the order.
Regarding the Winter Zone Schools of J&K, the SEC ordered that the offline teaching for all classes shall commence from February 28 when the winter break ends. “The Head of the Institutions must ensure that guidelines related to vaccination for students above 15 years, social distancing norms and Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) are followed strictly including regular screening at the entrance of the Institution.
”The coaching Centres for Civil Services, Engineering and NEET etc. are permitted to adopt offline mode of teaching subject to condition that both faculty members as well as students are fully vaccinated and the Head of the centre ensures due precautions such as CAB and adherence to SOPs.As per the order the vaccination adherence shall be ensured through coordination with the Department of Health and Medical Education J&K. Every school must further ensure full compliance to Covid Appropriate Behaviour and SOPs.They must also ensure screening and testing of any symptomatic students to contain any possibility of spread, it said. “All Deputy Commissioners shall intensify testing and ensure full utilisation of available RT-PCR and RAT capacities.
There shall be no drop in testing levels,” it reads.It said chief Medical Officers of all districts shall submit a daily report regarding the utilisation of available RT-PCR capacities to the District Magistrates concerned. Besides, District Magistrates shall also go for capacity expansion of the RT-PCR testing as per the requirement “The Deputy Commissioners shall also focus on the positivity rates of the Medical- Blocks under their jurisdictions,” it reads further, adding, “Intensified measures related to Covid management and restriction of activities shall be undertaken in these Blocks.”There shall be renewed focus on Panchayat level, Medical Block mapping of cases, it said.
“Effective micro-containment zones shall be constituted wherever the number of Covid-19 Positive cases reaches 3 or above.”The DCs shall keep active track of the positivity rates in their respective jurisdictions, it said. “Strict perimeter control (Micro-Containment Zone) shall be implemented for localities where Covid-19 Positive Cases number reaches 3 and above,” the order reads, adding, “This shall be done to ensure no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.”Pertinent to mention that following the decline in COVID cases, many state, UT governments have decided to reopen schools for primary classes too.