Bhubaneswar: In view of the pandemic situation arising out of the COVID-19 (Corona Virus), Odisha government on Monday ordered closure of all government, aided, public and private schools. As a precautionary measure, examination of students of all classes from standard I to Class IX and XI have also been postponed till further orders in the State.
In a notification issued by School and Mass Education Department, examination for Class XII students will continue as per the schedule. However, the examination will be conducted under strict supervision and as per the advisory issued by State Health and Family Welfare Department.
Though teachers have been asked not to attend schools, they have been asked to remain available over phone. In its latest notification, the School and Mass Education department clarified that the evaluation of answer sheets of matriculation and Plus II will not be affected, said minister Samir Ranjan Dash.
The entire evaluation process will be conducted as per schedule and several dos and don’ts issued by Health and Family Welfare department will be strictly followed, Dash added.
In another development, the authorities of Utkal University today postponed all the mid-term examinations. The revised dates for the mid-term semester examination will be notified later.
The students of Utkal University have been asked to vacate all the hostels within 24 hours. Mess of all hostels will be closed from March 17 (tomorrow) in the premier State-run educational institute.
It is pertinent to mention here that Odisha reported first coronavirus case on Sunday after a 31-year-old student, who returned from Italy, was tested positive. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
The student returned from Italy on March 6 and was admitted to the hospital on March 14 as he did not get relief from cold and cough after reaching home on March 12.
Doctors who attended him, sent his blood and swab samples for examination and the reports subsequently revealed that he was infected with COVID-19.
The State government has already declared COVID-19 as a disaster for the state under section 2(d) of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and authorised the disaster management authorities, State executive committee and public authorities to take appropriate action for effective management of the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak.
Several district administrations have clamped prohibitory orders on any kind of mass gatherings (social and religious), assemblies, congregations, public meetings, seminars at institutions and hostels in their respective jurisdictions as a precautionary measure.