Guwahati: Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced that the last date for the teachers and other employees of the education sector has been extended till September 15 as they will have to mandatorily undergo the lengthier RT-PCR testing process.
"We had urged teachers to complete the COVID-19 tests until August 31. However, since these tests will not be Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and RT-PCR, we have extended the last date to September 15", Sarma told the press. "The teachers who have already completed the RT-PCR tests can return to the schools and colleges from September 1."
Sarma also informed that in the first 15 days of the coming month, sanitization of the schools and colleges will be conducted in which the teachers and other employees shall lend a helping hand. "The classrooms shall also have to re-organized in order to abide by the social distancing guidelines and the teachers will play a role in this."
The education minister also stated that the students must be mandatorily provided with masks, either directly by the government or the schools/colleges. "We are holding discussions on allotting a certain budget to procure masks for the students' safety, but if we are not able to do that, the schools/colleges shall have to make the arrangement," said Sarma.
From September 15 onwards, Sarma said that students will be given a week's study material and question paper while visiting the schools for mid-day meals.
Sarma also announced that from September 15 to September 30, HS 2nd year and degree 3rd-year students will be divided into groups of 4-5 and will attend 'informal classes'. "If there are COVID-19 transmissions, we will close the institutions immediately. These students will not be taught on a class-wise basis. And timings do not have to be regular," he said.
He further announced that the teachers and professors shall conduct the online classes from the institutions and not from their homes, as was being done previously.
In regards to the students of those schools/colleges which are being used as quarantine centres, Sarma said that they will be shifted to neighbouring institutions where they will have to discharge their duties. "In case it is not possible, they will be allowed to continue working from their homes."
Sarma also said that the private schools and colleges have also been urged to follow the same rules and restrictions provided by the Government. "Although we cannot hold the private institutes to ransom and demand that they too follow our guidelines, we expect that they will abide by the same rules."