Schools re-opening for Std V-VIII deferred to February 8 in city Staff Reporter ; Schools have to conduct RTPCR test of all teaching and non-teaching staff and submit the certificates to school management committee The schools in Maharashtra were scheduled to re-open for Classes V to VIII from January 27. However the schools in Nagpur city will re-open for these classes from February 8. Radhakrishnan B Municipal Commissioner issued an order in this regard on Saturday. Already the schools in the city are conducting classes for Std IX to XII. As per the order issued by the Municipal Commissioner on Saturday the schools will be able to conduct classes for Std V to VIII from February 8 (Monday). As permission was granted to schools to conduct these classes from January 27 many schools had already sent out messages to parents in this regard. Some schools had circulated consent form to be filled by parents while sending their wards to schools. Some had informed the parents that on-line classes might not be continued from January 27 as offline classes would start. Against this backdrop the order issued by Radhakrishnan B assumes significance. As per the order all types of schools in Nagpur city have been allowed to re-start classes for Std V to VIII from February 8 subject to certain guidelines/conditions. The guidelines/conditions are the same as mentioned in the Standard Operating Procedure issued on November 10 2020 by School Education and Sports Department. It is mandatory for schools to conduct RTPCR test of all teaching and non-teaching staff and submit the certificates issued in this regard by testing laboratories concerned to the school management committee. The schools have been asked to obtain parents consent in writing allowing their wards to attend the classes in school. School managements have been asked to ensure availability of thermometer thermal scanner/gun pulse oxymeter sanitiser soap and water etc. School managements have been asked to ascertain that school buses are regularly sanitised. Physical distancing has to be maintained between students in classrooms and between staff in staff-room. Only one student is allowed to sit on one bench in classroom. School managements have been asked to ensure display of poster/sticker regarding maintaining physical distance mark boxes to maintain distance of minimum 6 feet between students in school premises and also mark different routes for entry and exit. Schools are not allowed to conduct classes in closed classrooms in any case and to keep doors and windows of classrooms open for ventilation. All other guidelines are the same as earlier. In rural areas schools for Std V-VIII to start from Jan 27 as scheduled Staff Reporter Though the schools in Nagpur city will start conducting classes for Std V-VIII from February 8 these classes will be started in schools in rural areas of Nagpur district from January 27 as scheduled. Chintaman Vanjari Education Officer (Primary) Zilla Parishad issued a letter to all the schools in the district in this regard. Already the schools in rural areas were conducting classes for Std IX to XII and the attendance of students had increased. In the given situation COVID-19 also appears to be in control stated Vanjari. Against this backdrop and keeping in mind the need to avoid academic loss of students in Std V to VIII the schools have been allowed to conduct these classes from January 27 he added. These schools have to follow all the guidelines mentioned in the Standard Operating Procedure issued by School Education and Sports Department of Maharashtra Government on November 10 2020. These include mandatory RTPCR test of teaching and non-teaching staff prior to re-starting classes. The teachers found positive for COVID-19 in the RTPCR test will be allowed to join their duties only after they submit fitness certificate issued by doctor. According to Vanjari the samples of teaching and non-teaching staff of various schools in rural areas was taken for RTPCR test and results would start coming in from Sunday.

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