Assam govt approves re-opening of education institutions from November 2

The decision for re-opening of hostels and residential schools will be taken by December 1,” education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said

Prabin Kalita | TNN | Oct 17, 2020 | GUWAHATI: Assam government on Saturday has given approval to re-opening of all education institutions for formal face-to-face education from class 6 onwards, including coaching centres, from November 2, but with extreme cautiousness to avoid any unwanted Covid-19 mishap. 

“The decision for re-opening of hostels and residential schools will be taken by December 1,” education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. 

The state education department has also decided that except classes VII, X and XII, there will be no promotional annual examination. “Schools will only hold the annual examination for promotion to class IX and the boards will conduct the exams for classes X and XII as usual. For all other classes from nursery to class VII, students will be automatically promoted to the next higher classes,” Sarma said. 

“If parents decide not to send their children to schools, the school authorities cannot impose the attendance rule. Going to school will be purely a voluntary exercise,” Sarma said 

While these guidelines are for government schools and colleges, Sarma said that if private institutes wish to re-open their face-to-face classes then they would also have to follow the government protocols. 

“The government will not issue any guidelines for re-opening to the universities keeping in view their autonomous status,” Sarma said. He added, “As for the reopening of schools for classes nursery to 5, no decision has been taken yet and these classes would remain suspended until further orders.” 

The guidelines for re-opening of engineering colleges and polytechnics where hostels will remain closed, says, “Online as well as blended or mixed mode of teaching will be followed by each institution to take care of the out-station students as required.” These guidelines add, “Each institutions will make a routine of face-to-face teachings and online teaching which may consist of multiple sections, multiple class timings as required.” 

On the issue of re-opening of the hostels, the guidelines say, “Institutions will make a plan for opening of hostel in due course with the formation of multi-stake holder committee with members of parents/boarders/faculty/staff/district authority.” 

“Classrooms will be not be allowed to accommodate more than 25 students and health department officials will be in continuous contact with the authorities of the institutes, including coaching centres,” Sarma said.