Odisha: Students upto Std-VII to attend physical classes from Feb 28

Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education Department on Thursday said that the students of Class I to VII will attend physical classes from February 28.

The schools for Standard I to VII, which was scheduled to start from February 14, have been allowed to open from the same date and students may not come to school. They can attend to online classes.

However, all the teachers should come to school and ensure thorough cleaning and sanitization of the campus. The students should come to attend physical classes from February 28, informed the School and Mass Education Department.

“Subsequently, reports were received from various Collectors seeking additional time for undertaking cleaning, bush cutting, minor repairs and ensuring clean environment to the small school going children on the grounds that these schools had remained closed for nearly two years. They have also pointed out that in the meantime, the Election process for PRIs, 2022 is going on. Most of the polling personnel engaged for the Election consists of teaching and non-teaching staff of this Department,” said Bishnupada Sethi, Secretary to School and Mass Education Department.

These polling personnel are undergoing training and engaged in other related Election works. Moreover, many of the school campuses will be used as polling stations where there will be heavy movement of polling personnel including Police and general public including Voters. This may create health hazards to the school going small children on account of COVID -19, stated the letter.