Kathua:A lot of excitement and delight was seen in the returning students on reopening of the school after a long hiatus caused by the devastating pandemic. The staff at the schools welcomed the students with open arms and with all necessary precautions while maintaining and following the issued COVID prevention SOPs. The number of students far exceeded the expectations and an infectious joy was seen spread among the students in all the schools.
After long deliberations, the higher authorities took a call to reopen the schools in staggered manner based on inputs by CEOs, ZEOs and HOIs. The valuable view of medical experts and authorities was also taken. A proper protocol was followed in the reopening and safety of the students was ensured at every level before and during the resuming of academic activities and physical attendance of the students in the school.
As per instructions of higher authorities all possible measures such as pre-sanitization, thermal scanning of staff and students on entrance, installation of sanitization points in the premises, availability of hand washing facility, clean toilets and provision of masks in schools were seen in place. The HOIs of the schools of the district also made sure that the proper seating protocols are followed and classes are run in shifts where ever required. Most of the schools also submitted their written preparedness report to the required authorities as instructed earlier.
Mr. P.L.Thapa, Chief Education Officer, Kathua personally visited several schools to see and make sure that the protocols are in place and required procedures are being followed for ensuring the safety of the students. He said that he is satisfied to see the activeness in students and teachers at this time and with the adequate precautions in place. He said it must be made sure that we keep following the safety guidelines religiously at all times. He also suggested the respective HOIs to organize random sampling in schools and taking special care in handling symptomatic and infected cases.
Several Zonal Education Officers also followed suite and visited different schools in their respective zone to welcome the students and ensuring that safe practices are being deployed at the schools. Several parents and community members also visited the schools with their wards and expressed their satisfaction and gratitude regarding the safety provisions and precautions in schools.
While talking to members of Media and Community outreach team, Kathua many students expressed their happiness as once again they will be able to study normally. The teachers also were in delighted moods and in many schools welcomed the students with beautifully decorated entrances and clean school premises. The teachers unanimously said that they are happy to see their students in such number after a long time and at the same time they are ready for forthcoming challenges of safety and examinations and they are geared up for putting in all extra efforts required and expected by higher authorities.
