50 pc students, staggered lunch breaks among guidelines for reopening of schools in Delhi

New Delhi

Allowing only 50 per cent students per classroom, mandatorythermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangement andavoiding routine guest visits are among the guidelines announced by the DelhiDisaster Management Authority (DDMA) for reopening of schools and colleges fromSeptember 1.

The DDMA has said that students, teachers and non-teaching staff living inCOVID containment zones will not be allowed to come to schools and colleges.

Following a marked improvement in the COVID situation in the national capital,the Delhi government on Friday had announced that schools for classes 9 to 12,colleges and coaching institutions would reopen from September 1.

The Delhi government had clarified that no student would be forced to attendphysical classes and the consent of parents would be mandatory.

"Schools and colleges should prepare a timetable as per occupancy limit ofclassrooms following COVID norms. A maximum 50 per cent students per classroommay be called depending upon capacity. The seating arrangement should be donein such a way that seats are occupied in an alternate manner," read theDDMA guidelines notified on Monday.

"As the situation varies from school to school and college to college, theinstitutions may stagger the schedule to avoid crowding in classrooms and atmain entrance or exit," the DDMA said.

Lunch breaks may also be staggered and preferably be held in open areas asstudents will remove masks while having food. Students should also be advisedto not share lunch, books and stationery items, the guidelines added.

While the government has noted that the vaccination centres and activities likeration distribution which were going on in different schools will continue, theDDMA said the area being used for these activities should be separated from thearea which will be used for academic activities.

"In this regard, district administration shall cordon off the areademarcated for the purpose, make separate entry and exit for the centres anddeploy sufficient number of civil defense volunteers to avoid mingling ofstudents with the persons coming with students, the DDMA said.

"On campus counselling and guidance of students and teachers to beconducted to give emotional or trauma support for their readiness with newnormal of stringent physical distancing, face mask guidelines and hygieneguidelines," it said.

Schools and colleges have also been asked to ensure that the eligible teachingand non-teaching staff as well as support staff of the schools, colleges, educationaland coaching institutes, are vaccinated and it should be done at the toppriority.

"Mandatory thermal screening of everyone, through sanitisation of allbuildings, proper handwashing arrangements. All schools and colleges areadvised to ensure that a quarantine room is available for emergency use.Routine guest visits should be discouraged," the guidelines said.

The DDMA has noted that there should be a gap of at least one hour between exitof the last group of morning shift and entry of the first group of eveningshift in double shifted schools and colleges.

"Similarly, all other educational and coaching institutes shall maintain agap between batches and shifts. Help of volunteers may be taken to avoidcrowding and maintaining of COVID-appropriate behaviour at the entry and exitgates of the building or premises," it said.

"All vehicles used for transportation should be sanitised regularly andheads shall ensure that all eligible transportation staff (driver, attendant,etc.) are vaccinated and it should be done at the top priority," theguidelines added.

The DDMA has also clarified that all other activities allowed and prohibited asper its earlier orders will remain in force till September 16.