Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major decision, the Goa government is set to reopen schools for Classes IX to XII from October as recommended by the State COVID-19 expert committee. However, the government is awaiting a final nod from the Task Force on COVID management.
During its meeting held on Monday, the expert committee recommended that classes can be resumed in hybrid format, on the basis of a 2.5 per cent Covid-19 positivity rate in the State. The Committee, which has opined that classes can resume from October 4, has also recommended that students with co-morbidities should be allowed to attend classes only after producing a doctor’s medical certificate.
Speaking to media persons, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant confirmed that the Expert Committee has recommended reopening schools for Classes IX to XII, after following proper Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). “The recommendation will be put before the task force for final decision. Only after task force nod, the proposal will be moved to the Education Department for implementation,” he said.
Sawant said that classes will resume in a phased manner, beginning with Classes X and XII and then Classes IX and XI. “We will have to assess the infrastructure. The implementation will be done taking all stakeholders into confidence and following all protocols and norms,” he said.
Asked whether classes will resume after the Diwali vacation, the Chief Minister said “it can be before that”.
Schools up to the higher secondary in the State have been shut since March. The State government recently allowed colleges to reopen for the academic year.
The Expert Committee said that it has recommended opening of schools in hybrid format. Committee member Dr Shekhar Salkar said that classes can resume from October 4 onwards as per their view, but then, schools need to be given time to prepare. He said that at present the positivity rate is under control.
“Let the Task Force and Government decide on the date of reopening,” he said.
Salkar said that classes can resume in hybrid format, wherein lectures can be held online as well as offline mode. “Also, students with co-morbidities should be asked to produce medical certificate to attend classes. Any child or family member suffering from cold or other symptoms should be discouraged from attending classes,” he said.
Salkar also said that non-vaccinated teachers should be made to produce RTPCR negative certificate every week.
