The Delhi government on Wednesday allowed all the schools to reopen for class 10 and 12 students from January 18 in the national capital. The move is intended to facilitate the preparations of students ahead of the board exams.
However, the attendance will be optional and it will be up to the parents whether to allow the students to attend the classes or not. The government has asked the schools to call students only on the consent of the parents. Moreover, all the prescribed coronavirus precautions should be followed at the schools.
“In order to conduct the activities pertaining to pre-board preparations and practical work, the head of government, aided and unaided recognised schools may call the students of classes 10 and 12 only to school with effect from January 18, 2021. However, the child should be called to school only with the consent of parents, following the enclosed standard operating procedure. Further, while the records of children coming to school be maintained, the same should not be used for attendance purposes as sending the child to school is completely optional for parents,” the circular of Directorate of Education (DoE) read.
In addition to it, the circular also mentioned that the schools will not reopen in the containment zones. Students, teachers and staff living in containment zones will not be allowed to attend the schools.
There will not be assembly and physical activities at the schools. The government has directed the principals to ensure no sharing of books, copies and stationary items.
The circular stated that the pre-board exams of Class 12 will be conducted between March 3 and April 15 and for Class 10, they will be held between April 1 and April 15.
The dates for written and practical exams have already been announced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The practical exams will start from March 1 and written exams will be conducted between May 3 and June 10.
The schools will have to follow the guidelines including social distancing of six feet, staggered timings and hygiene. The DoE said that the schools will have to provide emotional and trauma support to students and teachers when they will return to the schools.
