Bhubaneswar, Feb 3: The Odisha government has decided to reopen schools and colleges across state from February 7. With Covid-19 cases declining in the State, this decision was announced by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra at a press conference here on Thursday.
Physical classes for students from Class 8 to 12, along with colleges, universities and other technical institutions will reopen from February 7. However, classes for students from KG to Class 7 will reopen from February 14, said the Chief Secretary. Students can opt-out online or offline classes according to their health conditions.
The State government has also allowed the educational institutions to reopen their hostels for students from February 7, while strictly adhering to the Covid-19 protocols of the government.
Briefing the media, Mohapatra stated, “The teaching and learning process has been severely affected since the last two years due to three consecutive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. The students, particularly children from Class I to V, have not been able to attend schools for almost 2 years”.
“All the educational institutions were closed for one month for the safety of the students keeping in view the Omicron wave,” said the Chief Secretary.
“However, it has been learned that the hospitalisation rate and positivity rate during the ongoing wave are considerably less than the earlier two waves. The positivity rate has also come down. Besides, those between 15 and 18 years age group have also been vaccinated in the State.”
Short-term training and skill development training under various departments will also open from Monday, informed Mohapatra. Similarly, the hostels attached to these educational institutions will also reopen from February 7.
Class 10 and 12 board exams will be conducted in the State as per the guidelines of the respective board and council.
However, there will be class promotion exams for students up to Class 9 and also for Class 11 students, said Mohapatra while briefing the media on the reopening of educational institutions in the State from next week.
Similarly, exams in other higher educational institutions will be conducted as per the guidelines issued by the Higher Education Department before the closure of the institutions in January.
“Examinations for Classes upto Standard 9 and for promotion of students from Standard 11 to Standard 12 may be done through class assessment. Students may be allowed the option of taking the examination either through offline or online or hybrid mode depending upon the feasibility of the schools,” said a release by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).
However, the examinations in Higher Education Institutions, including Technical and Professional institutions, may be conducted as per the earlier guidelines issued before the closure of these institutions on January 10, 2022, said the SRC.
The departments may facilitate introduction of bridge courses, wherever required to help the students overcome the learning gaps, if any. Further, all efforts should be made by the institutions to assist/ hand hold/ counsel the children and their parents to cope with the situation, added the SRC letter.
Besides, educational institutions have been advised to adopt bridge courses. Duration of the summer holiday can be decreased by different departments, if needed, added Mohapatra.
