Fresh Guidelines Issued by DDMA

Vinod Kakumanu
Sept. 1, 2021, 1:07 p.m.

Fresh guidelines for the reopening of schools were issued by DDMA, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority. Amidst the threat of a Covid-19 third wave, the Delhi government has released SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for schools, which essentially cover the following points:

Maximum of 50% of students per classroom to attend the class
Preparation of the timetable according to occupancy limit of classrooms and laboratories
Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) norms as specified by the Government to be followed by all educational institutions
To avoid crowding, schools should stagger lunch breaks, and these breaks should be held in open areas
Quarantine centres for emergency use to be set up by schools, and routine guest visits to be discouraged. This is apart from the standard precautions on sanitization, masking, and social distancing
Students and staff from Covid containment zones not to be allowed to come to educational institutions
To finalize their readiness plans for reopening, schools have been directed to consult their parent stakeholders by conducting meetings with SMC and PTA members
At least s one hour gap to be maintained between the last group of the morning shift and first group of the second shift in buildings from which double-shift schools operate

Apart from this, teachers are required to enquire about the well-being of every student. They are to provide emotional support to students and prepare them to resume academic activities. Teachers need to gauge the current academic levels of students and work towards bridging ‘learning gaps’.