GUWAHATI, Nov 2 - As educational institutions reopened after seven months of closure due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today cautioned that the COVID-19 was not yet over and urged teachers and students to follow the precautionary guidelines outlined by the government. �It is a challenging day for us. There were two opinions. Some say the government decision to reopen the educational institutions is wrong as the pandemic is not yet over. But on the other hand, we also had to consider the future of those students who have not been benefitted by the online mode of teaching,� Sarma said.
He said if the institutions remained closed, only the privileged class of students which have been benefitted by the online mode of teaching would be able to clear the examinations next year. �So, we were forced to take the decision to reopen the institutions which we are doing under tremendous mental pressure. As a health minister I oppose the decision, but as an education minister I had to take the decision. But our objective will fail if the teachers and students do not adhere to the COVID-19 prevention protocols. We have published a scientific SOP for the purpose,� he said.
Appealing to the teachers and students to adhere to the precautionary measures, Sarma said students will lose a year, if the government is forced to go for another lockdown in the event of a spike in COVID-19 positive cases. �The teachers and students should not misinterpret the decision. COVID-19 is still there and we have to be extremely cautious,� he added.
Following stringent safety precautions, classes for students in standards VI to XII and all undergraduate, degree colleges, engineering colleges, polytechnics, universities and private training and coaching institutes reopened today after seven months.
The educational institutions were closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes for IX to XII standard students had partially resumed from September 21. However, classes from I to V will continue to remain suspended until further orders.
In order to ensure smooth transition of students from home-based schooling during the lockdown period to formal schooling and for ensuring emotional wellbeing of students, only the �orientation activities� will be undertaken during the first 15 days of reopening the schools. The regular curriculum-based teaching-learning process will be resumed thereafter.
Education department officials said no untoward incident have been reported from anywhere on the first day. �District level committees have been formed to monitor the situation in the schools and they are on the job,� they said.
