Junior classes from KG to V to reopen in Odisha after 2 years from February 14 – Times of India

Amid concerns of parents to send unvaccinated kids to schools, the government has offered teaching for students in three modes including online, offline, and hybrid mode by schools. The decision of reopening junior classes has been welcomed by academicians and parents.

“Due to covid situation, education has been badly affected. For the three covid waves children could not go to school continuously and especially children of class I to V did not go to school for two years. From the last one month’s experience, we learned that Covid-19 infection is under control and hospitalization is also less. In the meantime, 15 to 18 years old have been vaccinated. So, the government decided to reopen schools,” said chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra.

The government has suggested departments introduce bridge courses to help students to overcome the learning gaps. All efforts will be made by the institutions to assist, handhold, and counsel the children and parents to cope with the situation, the notification said.

School and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash said, “Junior students will return to school after two years. We want children to feel safe and acclimatize to physical classes following covid guidelines like wearing a mask and maintaining physical distancing.” The standard operating procedure (SOP) for senior class will be followed for them, Dash added.

Subrat Chand, a parent of two school-going children, said, “It is one of the most awaited news for children because due to closure of schools their overall growth is being affected badly. Cooped at homes for close to two years the kids are addicted to mobile phones and computer screens without any physical activity.”

School authorities are also confident about reopening schools for junior classes. “We are confident that we could manage younger children because small kids listen to teachers and obey rules more than older kids. In the last two years they have also known how to follow covid rules,” said Premalata Mishra, headmaster of Unit-4 Primary School.

Hostels and other residential schools will also reopen as soon as physical classes will start. Besides, short-term courses, training, workshops, skill development training programs will also be held in offline mode.

Examinations for classes up to class IX and for promotion of students from class XI and XII will be done through class assessment. Students may be allowed the option of taking the examination either offline or online or hybrid mode depending on the feasibility of the schools. Board exams for classes X and XII will be conducted by the respective boards.