Kathmandu. The Municipal Education Committee has decided that the schools that meet the health standards in the Kathmandu metropolis can be operated on October 26. A meeting chaired by Vidya Sundar Shakya, head of the metropolis and chairperson of the committee, made the decision with 27-point criteria to be followed while operating the school.
In the current state of the Covid epidemic, the future and health of children is a matter of concern. Everyone should behave more judiciously than having any pros or cons. Chairman of the meeting Shakya said, “Schools should fully abide by the decisions taken by the government.” Do not think that you will follow the monitoring, otherwise, you will look favorable.
In order to run the school, the teachers, staff, drivers, co-drivers, and all those working for the cleanliness and security of the school should be vaccinated against Covid 19. If no one is able to get vaccinated, we will provide the vaccine. ‘Speaking on the minimum standards, Chief Shakya said,’ Before conducting the class, the school management committee, parents, teachers, and representatives of the concerned wards should sit down and make an understanding about the school operation environment. Only then can the school be run. ‘
At the meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Rajeshwar Gyawali said that everyone should be responsible for the decision being taken to manage the adverse situation. The meeting was attended by executive members, administrative officers of the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, representatives of PABSON and NPABSON, community school principals, and education committee officials.
The Department of Education will monitor the school to ensure full compliance with the prescribed standards. According to Education Officer Ram Prasad Subedi, the school will have to submit a detailed action plan to the Department of Education. There should be an implementation plan in the criteria such as maintaining physical distance, wearing masks, washing hands, measuring fever, not doing group activities, taking food from home. Education Officer Moti Bhattarai presented the criteria at the meeting.
In the current situation caused by the infection of Covid-19, the minimum standards to be followed while operating a school
1. Before the operation of the school, a meeting of the school management committee will be held with the participation of the parents, teachers and parents’ association, and the concerned ward stakeholders.
2. Schools must make a detailed action plan for school operation and submit it to the Department of Education.
3. Ensure that all teachers, staff, drivers, co-drivers, etc. who are in contact with the students in the school are vaccinated.
4. To ensure complete cleanliness of pre-school premises and classrooms.
5. Arrangements will be made to conduct classes in one shift or different shifts and days depending on the physical condition of the school, the number of students, and available manpower.
6. Arrange for hand sanitizing or washing from time to time by providing sanitizer or soapy water at the school gate and outside the classroom.
7. Arrangements will be made to test the fever of the students and staff every day by placing a thermal gun at the gate of the school and sending them inside only after checking that there is no fever.
8. When using school gates, classrooms and toilets, arrange for children to line up and take turns to get in and out.
9. Arrangements will be made for the school to provide masks to all the students who wear masks, bring backup masks, and those who do not wear masks.
10. Inform the students to arrange food and water from home.
11. To manage the accommodation of students only in such a way that physical distance is maintained based on the capacity of the classroom.
12. Arrangements will be made to sanitize the school premises and classrooms every day before starting the class and after conducting the class.
13. Inform students, teachers, and staff with health problems not to come to school.
15. Arrangements will be made for regular monitoring and coordination by the school management committee, teachers and parents association, and the concerned ward.
14. Schools should make children aware of health vigilance for 10 and 15 minutes before class every day and provide motivation through psychological counseling.
16. Arrangements will be made to keep the child in a separate isolation room in case of any health problem in the school, to inform the parents, and to take them to the nearest health facility immediately.
17. Do not hold group programs/group prayers etc. in the school.
18. Arrangements will be made to take turns in the school so that there is no crowd during lunch.
19. Remind students to use their textbooks, water bottles, snacks, bags, etc. on their own and not to share them with friends.
20. Encourage parents to bring their children to and from school. Arrangements will be made to stay in the vehicle in such a way that social distance is maintained in case of using the vehicle.
21. To appoint a health or science teacher as Kovid focal teacher in the school and to arrange student monitor for regular monitoring in each class.
22. To have a health help desk in the school.
23. To start reading from the upper class in the early days and to make arrangements to run the lower classes gradually.
24. While conducting the class in the early days, only a few periods should be taught, and gradually increasing the number of periods depending on the situation.
25. Continuation of ongoing alternative learning in the physical presence of all students until the classroom is fully operational.
26. In case of any new situation, report it to the Metropolitan Education Department and follow the instructions.
27. To make arrangements for regular monitoring through Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Department of Education.
-Chandra Bhattrai
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