Schools take cautious approach to reopening amid confusion

Despite being allowed to partially reopen from today, some city schools have decided to delay opening their doors to students for the first time since Covid restrictions came into force in March, while others faced confusion on protocols.
Schools in Meghalaya were allowed to reopen from today for students of Class 9 to 12 to meet teachers but there will be no regular classes or classroom sessions.
However, there were reports that some schools had conducted formal classes.
When asked about this Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that he have not received such reports as yet.
“But schools have to follow protocols. The main concern of the government is the health of the students and schools have to take necessary steps,” Rymbui said.
Some schools rued that they did not receive official notification from the Education Department on matters concerning education and reopening of classrooms.
Rymbui said that notifications have already been issued on the protocols that the schools have to follow.
He pointed out that this is an abnormal situation and confusion initially would be natural but things would settle gradually.
“I don’t rule out there will be confusion and the decision we took was taking into consideration the present situation,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the Principal of St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, Anthony Kharkongor, told Highland Post that the school held a staff meeting today and they briefed a few students on how they will rejoin and what the protocols to be followed are.
“We have also consulted the parents and we will be planning ahead with regards to the routine, subjects, etc,” he said.
The Principal of Laban Bengalee Boys Higher Secondary School, Rinku Bhattacharjee, informed that the school will start its partial opening from Friday.
“We have decided in today’s meeting that we will conduct Classes 9 and 11 for three days and 10 and 12 for three days starting from Friday after we have sanitised all the classrooms,” she said.
Students will have to bring two masks a day along with their hand sanitisers to school, she said, adding that the institution has also directed students who will be attending the classes to submit written permission from their parents by this week.
Some students visited KJP Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Mawkhar, with Assistant Teacher Babu Kular Khongjirem stating that students who have found it hard with online classes came in today and were given all necessary advice and study materials.
“We have followed all the safety protocols today while meeting the students and are planning ahead on the arrangement of classes from October 1,” he said.
Khongjirem further said that the government should also send an official notification to all the schools on the various guidelines and protocols so that everything is clear.