Sensitization of teachers starts ahead of reopening of schools in Kashmir

Suhail Bhat
Srinagar Feb 4: Ahead of the reopening of the schools in Kashmir, the Director of School Education today started a programme to sensitize the heads of intuitions regarding the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Srinagar.
The Director School Education Kashmir, Muhammad Younis Malik, said that they have started an intensive sensitization programme for the heads of institutions to ensure all COVID-19 related SOPs are followed.
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“We have started the intensive sensitization programme of schools heads. To begin with we are conducting a workshop at divisional level in collaboration with divisional COVID control room with some of their experts’ briefing Heads of Institutions regarding SOPs so that a message reaches to students and parents about the precaution they need to follow before schools open,” he said,
He also said that schools have been reopened in Jammu and they are about to reopen schools in the Valley as per schedule after the winter vacation ends. “Based on the feedback from the ground, the situation seems comparatively comfortable. The Government accordingly took a decision to reopen schools in Jammu Division, while Kashmir is observing winter vacation up to February 28. Hopefully, the schools will open here on March 1 as per schedule,” he said.
He informed the programme comprises two parts one is cleanliness of schools and other is the sensitisation of teachers. “We have to see cleanliness of schools which is very important so that it should not be the cause for pandemic and teachers, students and other stakeholders need to be sensitised. We have some days left to reopen schools and with every effort, we will try to sensitise all Heads of institutions and will communicate parents what precautions they have to follow while opening these schools.” he said.
He further said there are over 10,000 Government and 3000 private schools in the region wherein around 13-lakh students are enrolled. “These are not only students but their families. It involves in fact the whole society. So community teachers, students and all stakeholders need to be sensitised regarding the SOPs that were issued by state and central agencies,” he said.