MoHFW Issues Guidelines and Protocol for reopening Schools and Higher Learning Institutions; Check details here

Content Curator

Although the COVID-19 pandemic persists in India, the Indian Government on September 21 has relaxed certain restrictions that had been previously put in place to prevent colleges and schools from reopening.

This announcement had been notified on the official website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the form of public notice. The Government will permit students to visit higher education institutions and training centers for lab work and practical work under certain conditions.

Direct link to MoHFW website: mohfw.gov.in

Schools have been notified to follow guidelines regarding precautionary and preventive measures upon reopening the schools. These must be mandatorily followed to ensure the safety and health of students and staff.

A list of guidelines and instructions have been issued by the Ministry to educational institutions entailing safety measures to be followed while scheduling activities, classes, meetings and any mass gathering. The priority is to maintain the norms of social distancing to prevent the spread and transmission of the disease.

The MoHFW has advised the institutions to go about the academic session by conducting a combination of online and offline classes to maintain an interactive and mixed atmosphere for students and staff. This is to ensure that all students are not physically present for offline activities at any given time.

Higher learning institutes have been instructed to put restrictions on the number of staff and students that are present in laboratories at the same time. The ministry has advised the institutions to rearrange and redesign the spaces to make the process more productive and conducive.

As for employees who are at a higher risk of contracting and being affected by the disease, the institutions are to ensure that these individuals are not in direct contact with students or other staff members. This is applicable for aged employees, pregnant employees and those with pre-existing medical conditions.