Assam State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday informed that educational institutes, including schools and colleges, will reopen and regular classes will be held from November 2 onwards.
The announcement came in the line of the government’s ‘Unlock 5’ guidelines. However, classes up to fifth standard will remain suspended although students can go to school and avail mid-day meal facility and while doing so can take part in informal classes. The decision on resumption of classes up to Class 5 and reopening of residential schools will be taken in December.
Addressing media persons on Saturday, Sarma informed that as per the standard operating procedure, classes from Class 6 onwards will be held in two sessions – 8.30 am to 12.30 pm, and 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm – to maintain a staggered time-table aimed at achieving minimum possible congestion in schools at any given time slot. Informing that it would be completely up to the parents to send their wards to schools or not, Sarma said the percentage of class attendance will not be a factor in any way.
He further said that the annual examinations this year will only be conducted for students of classes 8, 10 and 12 and all other classes will be promoted by default.
“Even the school syllabus will be reduced and notified accordingly,” the Minister said, adding that the school management may continue to conduct online cases instead of regular classes.
Sarma also said that both the government as well as the private schools will have to follow the COVID-19 guidelines. Even in case of undergraduate classes, not more than 25 students can be accommodated in one room at a time.
The Minister said that polytechnic and engineering colleges too will reopen on November 2.
However, the hostels shall remain closed until November 30 when a decision on this is likely to be taken.