Unlock 4 guidelines: Schools & colleges to remain closed till Sep 30

Guwahati: While announcing the latest set of guidelines that are to be followed till September 30, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today informed that the schools, colleges, and other places of learning shall be kept closed, at least until September 30.

Answering the million-dollar question on the reopening of schools and colleges across the nation, the MHA in its notification wrote, "After extensive consultation with States and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will continue to remain closed for students and regular class activity up to 30th September 2020. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged."

However, the following will be permitted, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, with effect from September 21:

States or Union Territories may permit up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/ tele-counselling and related work.

Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to the written consent of their parents or guardians.

Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Short term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions or other Ministries of Government of India or State Governments.

National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers will also be permitted.

Higher education institutions will be permitted only for research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory/ experimental works. These will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view the incidence of COVID-19.

The SOP for the above-mentioned activities related to the education sector will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the MHA further stated in its notification.

Also Watch: NewsMakers: Re-Opening Education Institutes Issues & Challenges