West Bengal schools reopen for primary, upper primary classes today

NEW DELHI: The West Bengal government decided to reopen schools for primary and upper primary classes today following strict COVID-19 protocols and safety measures. The Integrated Child Development Services centres will also open today.

The primary and upper primary schools are reopening in the state under the recommendation of the state executive committee of the West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority. “A separate Standard Operating Procedure will be issued by the School Education Department in this regard,” said an official order.

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The order insisted on Covid appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks, practising social distancing and following other COVID-19 protocols.

The West Bengal government also issued a separate notification asking all district magistrates and authorities of primary and secondary schools to ensure classes from nursery to Class 7 begin from February 16.

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In a notification to the district magistrates, the school education department said the additional district magistrate (education) should act as the nodal officer to coordinate with upper primary and primary schools for starting classes from February 16 after sanitisation and enforcement of all covid protocol by February 16.

"All the teaching and non-teaching staff of Class 1 to 7 are asked to report at their respective schools on February 15 so that the physical classes commence from February 16".

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Physical classes for the lower sections will recommence after a gap of two years with strict adherence to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the School Education Department. Offline classes for students of Class 8 to 12 have begun from February 3.

Earlier on February 10, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that primary schools in the state could be reopened after a few more days following a proper evaluation of the Covid-19 situation and talks with school authorities. Some caution should be exercised before reopening the primary schools since there are warnings of another variant of the coronavirus and students could be allowed to attend classes in a rotational manner.