The West Bengal school education department has issued a set of COVID-19 protocols and instructions for school reopening post summer vacation on June 27.
The summer vacation for West Bengal schools were declared from May 2 to June 15 and was later extended to June 26. Given the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, the department has asked all district magistrates to make sure COVID-19 protocols are followed in the schools.
The notice states, “Nodal officers may be advised to take all necessary measures for smooth reopening of such schools after summer vacation within your district strictly following COVID-19 protocol.”
The school campuses will have to be made ready for reopening after necessary cleaning and sanitisation against COVID-19. The hostels are also directed to be opened and made functional after proper sanitisation.
The letter also said, “A COVID-19 general guideline on reopening of schools in the form of advisory and already circulated to all concerned and as is available on the website of the department, may kindly be referred and read with latest guidelines issued by the Health & Family Department, Government of West Bengal.”
Many private schools in West Bengal had started online classes after the summer vacation was extended while many schools in Kolkata, especially the schools under the Church of North India (CNI) decided to reopen as there was an improvement in the weather.