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    Assam readies SOP for phased reopening of educational institutions from September

    Synopsis

    All the teachers and staffs of the government educational institutions will have to undergo compulsory Covid-19 test by August 30, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He also asserted that the Covid-19 situation in the state was improving.

    Assam readies SOP for phased reopening of educational institutionsANI
    Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma interacting with Covid patients through the hospital window.
    GUWAHATI: Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that state government is expecting to open educational institutions in a staggered manner from September 1 onwards following clearance from the Centre.

    All the teachers and staffs of the government educational institutions will have to undergo compulsory Covid-19 test by August 30.

    Informing that he wishes to pen down a book on Assam’s quest in Covid-19 once the pandemic subsides, Sarma said, "We are having preliminary discussions and getting ready for reopening of educational institutions in a phased manner."

    Asserting that the Covid-19 situation is improving, he said, "Between August 23 and 30 the teachers and other staff will have to undergo Covid-19 tests. As per the SOP prepared by us, there will be no class till Class 4; for students of Classes 5 to 8 there may be classes in the open fields. For Classes 9 to 12, we are thinking of starting with two days a week, with no more than 15 students per batch."

    Sarma, who is also the education minister, added, "For class 10 and 12 there will be four days class in a week. For three year degree course only final semester classes will be held. These classes will be for three hours. We are also having a relook at the school and council syllabus. We will soon invite public comments on the SOP."

    The Assam government has decided to constitute a 40-member committee to suggest how to implement the new education policy. This committee will have several sub-groups. The state is expecting to be ready with a blueprint by January next year and the committee will submit the report by December this year.

    Sarma said around 75,000 new educational infrastructures will come up in the villages. "We are also setting up 119 high schools across the tea estates of the state. We will be spending close to Rs 1.19 Crore for construction of each school. Assam is spending close to 5.8 per cent of state GDP on education, with around Rs 21,500 crore spent annually."


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