November 18, 2020.
TED NewsDesk Maharashtra: The school education department of Maharashtra notified every collector and municipal commissioner of Maharashtra to provide financial aid to the schools for arranging everything necessary for the smooth functioning of classes before their reopening. Previously, principals from various schools across the state voiced their concern regarding the shortage of fund required to enable necessary facilities for the reopening of schools for IX to XII graders. Thus, the state school education department urged the municipal commissioners and collectors to support these schools.
Recently, the government announced November 23 as the reopening date for the schools and junior colleges for senior classes. The department alongside released the Standard Operating Protocol (SOPs) on November 10. As per the SOP, thermal guns, pulse oximeters, sanitisers and soaps were requirements for the reopening. Besides, the department also ordered to check the teaching and non-teaching staffers thoroughly in the view of COVID-19.
Vandana Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary (School Education) outlined in her Tuesday’s notification that the SOP clearly states the responsibility of local authorities in reopening of educational institutions. She also urged the administration to look after the junior colleges and schools and help them in facilitating mandatory items. Moreover, the circular also appealed to the public bodies to facilitate free RT-PCR tests between November 17-22, for the staffers of every school.
Prashant Redij, Secretary, Brihanmumbai Association of Heads of Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools lauded the decision.
“The BMC has been running free testing centres where teachers have been asked to get tested. For the procurement of devices, we have authorized the headmasters of schools to make purchases from funds already with them. Also, all 1,136 BMC schools will be cleaned from November 20,” said Mahesh Palkar, Education Officer, BMC.
The notice is likely to lift the burden from the shoulders of private autonomous schools, as neither the government nor the BMC funds them.
Source: Indian Express
