The Directorate of School Education in Nagaland has proposed resumption of normal classes for students of Classes 1 to 5 in the State from March 15. Normal classes for students of Classes 6 & above in Nagaland reopened from February 8.
In the proposal for reopening of lower classes addressed to the Special Secretary, Department of School Education & SCERT, the Principal Director, School Education, Shanavas C said the department has resumed normal classes for students of Class 6 & above from February 8 and schools throughout the State have been functioning smoothly “strictly following the SOPs issued by the State Govt.”
No adverse reports have been received from any school/parents/teachers/public till today regarding the functioning of schools after resuming normal classes. Further, the rate of spread of Covid-19 in the State is also negligibly low in the past two months, reasoned the PD while pushing for reopening of school for Classes 1 to 5.
Shanavas proposed that the department be allowed to resume classes for students of classes 1 to 5 from March 15 strictly following the SOPs notified by the State Government.
The present proposal of the State Directorate of School Education to reopen normal classes for students of Classes 1 to 5 exposes the disconnect the top State School Education officials have with the ground realities as most private schools in Nagaland, particularly in Dimapur, have already resumed normal classes for lower sections since the reopening of schools for Classes 6 & above from February 8.
In fact, the Department should also announce resumption of normal classes for Classes A&B and even for toddlers (pre-school/Montessori) as most such classes have resumed and already functional in some parts of the State.
On the issue of resuming classes “strictly following the SOPs issued by the State Govt”, officials of the School Department can visit any schools anywhere in the State and see whether the SOPs are being followed. It is not just the students, but Education officials will see most teachers not wearing masks, forget about hand sanitizers. And social distancing is a far cry given the space constraint.
But since so far there are no adverse reports despite the flouting of Government rules and orders from any quarter, and considering that fresh case of Covid-19 detection in the State is hovering around nil to 1 or 2 cases a day, there appears to be no justification for the State to opt for online mode of education for lower classes purely in paper. (Source: Nagaland Page)