Visakhapatnam: It's all Covid-gogy in schools from now

Visakhapatnam: Reduced school hours, less holidays and shift system sans playtime and assembly sessions will be the new features iIt's all Covid-gogy in schools from nowncluded in the fresh academic year. As schools in Andhra Pradesh are preparing to reopen from August 1, the School Education Department has come up with a set of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to carry out the academic activities in a hassle-free manner, especially in times of novel coronavirus pandemic. Unlike pre-Covid times, it is going to be a different environment altogether for students as the officials concerned devise ways to ensure practice of safety protocols both among students as well as the staff. "There is a need to bring in a cultural shift among teachers, parents and students as maintenance of hand hygiene and social distancing should be an integral part of the academic life. It is not an easy exercise. But with concerted effort, we can achieve it," opines TVS Ramesh, academic coordinator of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). With significant focus on safety and security of students, suggestions are also made to reduce the strength of the class by introducing shift system, continuing online classes and following hand hygiene mechanism at regular intervals.

"It is going to be a tough task for the teachers to educate students on the importance of wearing masks and keeping their hands clean as old habits die hard. Education on hygiene protocol should start from home and yes, it is certainly going to be challenging in the initial stages but hopeful that soon it would be put into practice," says an Education Department official.

Missing 38 working days by July-end, the officials concerned say that plans are afoot to reduce the number of holidays during the academic year, slash 30 to 40 percent syllabus and continue online classes for some subjects to make do for the lost academic sessions.

Further, availing ANMs and Asha workers' services to monitor children's health in schools, the department officials say that education about safety and Covid-19 prevention measures among students, parents and teachers will be a constant endeavour.