J-K govt mulling to restart education process for 9th–12th standards amid new SOPs

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir School Education department is mulling to restart the education process at High, Secondary and Higher Secondary level amid new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines of Government of India (GoI).

Top officials of the department said that they are working on the strategy to be followed while reopening schools in Jammu and Kashmir.

A local news gathering agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reported that “the department is working out on the strategies to be followed on reopening of the schools as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued by Government of India.”

The official said that the department was frequently holding the meetings in this regard to chart out as to how they will reopen the schools.

“With the announcement of resuming the academics, the students of 10th, 11th and 12th standard will be allowed to visit their respective schools on volunteer basis with the consent of their parents followed by the prescribed SOPs,” the official said.

“The department will also contact the Head of the Institutions (HoIs) to check their strategies in this regard,” the official added.

Meanwhile, department of Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR) of Jammu and Kashmir in its guidelines has said that 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff shall be permitted to be called to schools for online teaching, Tele-counseling and related work, in areas outside containment zones only from 21 September.

In an order the DMRRR said, “Students of classes 9 to 12th are permitted to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones only on voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers 21 September.”

“This shall however be permitted subject to written consent of their parents or guardians as per the SOP to be issued in this regard by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare subsequently,” it reads—(KNO)