Schools to undergo litmus test as classroom teaching resumes

Reopening after a fortnight is going to be a litmus test for managements at government and private schools.

Besides making up for academic losses, heads and teachers would have to put in extra effort to ensure the safety of the infrastructure on campuses.

Staff at most of schools were seen preoccupied in making arrangements for the safety and comfort of students, besides organising meetings on various aspects of the guidelines received from higher authorities today before schools reopen.

Leaks or seepage, overflowing or blocked drains and electrical equipment were cited among the major parameters of assessment of suitability for reopening during inspections by the authorities concerned at both government and private schools.

Another area of focus after reopening would remain the completion of syllabus on time. As schools were shut suddenly a few days prior to the conclusion of the first semester on August 31, teachers and students would have to burn the midnight oil to catch up before examinations.

Amandeep Singh, a functionary at a government school, said the syllabus and revision of certain topics had been completed at the PM Shree Government Senior Secondary School in Bhogiwal through organising online classes when the school was closed.

School administrators claimed subject teachers had drafted elaborate programmes to facilitate students and clear their doubts before the commencement of examinations on September 18.