The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has issued a new plan for all public and private schools and preschools, allowing the schools to operate at 50 percent of their total student capacity. The Ministry said that the blended learning system introduced to safeguard the pupils, teachers and staff from the coronavirus pandemic will continue. Under the new plan, 50 percent students will attend the classes in-person, with the other half continuing studies through distance learning. The two groups will rotate on a weekly basis.
Institutions are also allowed, after getting approval from the department concerned, to run two daily shifts of classes, provided no shift exceeds 50 percent of the school’s total student capacity. All facility surfaces must also be sanitised properly during the intervals between the shifts. Teachers and school staff can attend in full capacity while observing all the COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Specialised, technical, and special needs institutions, as well as schools in remote villages or private schools with low density, will operate with 100 percent students attending the classes in-person. All schools will also ensure that number of students in a classroom does not exceed 15 and that every two pupils are 1.5 metres apart. Schools are also directed to ensure there is no crowding at the entrance and exit points of their premises.
Schools in the country reopened on September 1 following a months-long closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Health and education authorities have worked hard from day one to ensure continuity of education in a safe environment. Stringent health safety measures have been put in place to protect the students, educators and staff from the COVID-19 infection. The authorities have also successfully implemented the prescribed safety procedures at all educational facilities, and conducted the examinations under strict health safety arrangements.
The increase in the limit of students attending classes came after the government launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Thousands of people have already received the first shot of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The number of new coronavirus cases has also significantly fallen in recent months, thanks to the effective preventive and precautionary measures in place. A mandatory one-week hotel quarantine for all arrivals from high-risk countries has also helped in limiting the spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has said that it places the health and safety of students, teachers, and administrative staff at the top of its priorities and will continue to monitor the situation and take steps accordingly.
