After the interruptions caused by the third wave of Covid pandemic, physical classes for students of Class VIII to XII along with colleges, universities and other technical institutions resumed across Odisha on Monday in compliance with the safety protocols laid down by the State government.
Students of Class VIII will attend their classes between 10 am to 1 pm while the timing for Class IX is fixed between 10 am and 4 pm. Elaborate arrangements have been put in place at school campuses in accordance with the Covid protocols.
As per the earlier instructions of the School and Mass Education Minister Samir Dash, students will have to go through thermal screening before attending the physical classes apart from following other safety rules.
Along with the schools, the hostels and other residential facilities for boarding students have also been reopened . Utmost cautionary measures have been adopted to keep the virus at bay. Isolation rooms have also been set up in schools based on the direction of the State government.
“We were always ready for the resumption of the physical classes of students because of arrangements made for doubt clearing classes for Class X students. With more classes reopening, proper sanitisation of classrooms and toilets, thermal screening of students and sitting arrangements to maintain social distance has been enforced on a more wide scale,” said a teacher in Cuttack.
“The attendance in the physical classes is relatively low as of now. We have been asked to ensure wearing of masks, sanitise our hands and follow other protocols while attending the physical classes,” said a college girl student in Rourkela.
Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena announced suspension of physical classes in schools across the State up to class 12 from January 7.