Under Unlock 4.0, the Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed for partial reopening of schools in various states across India from September 21. Due to the pandemic, schools in various states will partially resume from today after a gap of around 6 months for the teaching as well as the non-teaching staff which were closed from mid-March.

The schools only been opened for students from Classes 9 to 12 but their attending the same will strictly be on a voluntary basis.

The MHA has also released a specific set of SOPs for the partial re-opening of schools. Majority of states have abstained from reopening of schools from Sept 21. Many state including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland have allowed the students of classes 9 to 12 to return to classes.

Also read: Reopening of school: States planning to start classes from 21st Sept

According to new SOPs, a maximum 50% staff – both teaching and non-teaching staff is allowed. Students of only classes 9 to 12 have been permitted to go to school to seek guidance from their teachers. This, however, is not mandatory and strictly voluntary and would require written permission from their parents.

The schools are required to follow cleaning protocols as well as ensure proper social distancing of the students before reopening of schools. Teachers and students would be required to wear masks at all times and sanitize their hands.

Higher educational institutes for many states continue to remain closed. Only the institutes for professional courses which require laboratory work have been permitted to re-open. Strict guidelines and SOPs for college reopening have to be followed for them as well.