Suggested Guidelines for Schools reopening after Lockdown

Schools and colleges across the country have been closed since the second week of March in the wake of Covid-19. The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is working on guidelines for the reopening of schools after the lockdown. But for the safety of kids in your school, as a school administrator, you probably can follow some guidelines, even if not mandated. Some of the suggested measures include having no assembly sessions, seminars and gatherings in schools for a long time. Apart from this, HRD minister Pokhriyal, during a live interaction with teachers via video-conferencing, discussed NCERT guidelines on how to reopen schools amid the Covid pandemic hinting that schools are also likely to call only 30 per cent of students at a time to maintain social distancing. Use different shifts in school to stagger the crowding. Use a healthy mix of online and classroom based classes.

Employees planning to come to office as required by their reporting manager/ function head be allowed to enter the school only if their name appears in the approved list sent by the function head to Location/function HR Manager/ Admin Manager/Gate Security.

Above all educate your staff, students and parents of students about safety procedures and lifestyle changes needed to battle this pandemic.

Students, teaching and non-teaching staff to adhere to the following guidelines to keep their health and safety on priority and help the school create a safe workplace for all. 

Getting Ready For The School:

1. Check your temperature every day. If you are not well or have fever, stay@home and inform your teacher/reporting manager.
2. Take a bath before leaving for school.
3. Download the Aarogya Setu App. Do the self-assessment.
4. You must wear a mask. Keep a spare mask handy. Don’t ever touch the outer surface of your mask.
5. Wear your ID card - It’s hard to recognize anyone behind the mask.
6. Home food, is the best food. Under these circumstances outside Food is a strict no, so carry your own food.
7. Please follow staggered times for lunch as indicated by Admin team to avoid crowding in the cafeteria.
8. Always carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you.

Reaching The School:

1. Staff members must drive themselves to work by their own Car/bike, unless they have to monitor a school bus/cab.
2. Students to be dropped/picked up by parents or by school bus/cab (filled at maximum of one third the capacity). The driver of school bus/cab has to ensure sanitising the school bus/cab himself by recommended sanitiser after every trip in presence of a second person designated by school.
3. Carpool by parents is a strict no, as sanitizing cannot be enforced on parents.
4. Two-wheeler: Travel solo, no pillion rider allowed. Four-wheeler: 2 passengers per sedan and 3 per SUV including the driver.
5. Driver of school bus/cab must follow the same protocols (wear masks, temperature check, self-check on app, carry own food & sanitizer).
6. School bus/cab drivers won’t be allowed to leave school premises once inside.

 Before Entering The School:

1. We care for you, thermal scanning & hand-sanitization are essential at the entry point of each floor.
2. No ID Card/ No entry-pass/ No Mask = No Entry.

 Inside The School:

1. You must wear a mask at all times.
2. Not more than 2 or 4 people are allowed inside a lift at a time.
3. Only one third of the students in a classroom at a time, maintaining at least 3 feet distance, even teachers.
4. Namaste is best way to greet! No handshakes please. Virtual High Fives are allowed.
5. Distance to be maintained during breaks and lunch breaks. No sharing of food.

Meetings:

1. Avoid in-person meetings; use MS Teams for the same.
2. If you must meet in-person, maintain at least 3 feet distance.
3. Stick to soft copies. Save paper, save the world.

Safety, Health & Hygiene:

1. Schools are regularly sanitized, help us keep them clean.
2. Wash Hands Often (WHO).
3. Spitting and blowing of nose is strictly prohibited.
4. Avoid touching your face often.
5. Maintain at least 3 feet distance; follow social distancing rules.
6. Don’t call parents to the school unless necessary. Use MS Teams to communicate.
7. No unnecessary visitors/sales people are allowed at school.

 Washroom Hygiene:

1. An attendant for each washroom, ensuring one third occupancy.
2. Maintain strict wash room hygiene and etiquette at all times.
3. Exercise self-discipline, Ensure flushing urinals before & after use.
4. Ensure washing of hands after touching water taps & latches.
5. Sanitize your hands after entering and before exiting the school washroom.
6. Open or close the doors using your shoulder or elbow. Minimize contact with oft used surfaces such as handles and bars.

 After School Hours:

1. Whole school to be sanitized after dispersal time. School sanitising staff to use Hospital grade PPE.
2. Wear your ID card until you reach home.
3. Avoid public gatherings.
4. Avoid cash transactions & encourage e-payments wherever possible.
5. Use elbows to press lift buttons or to open doors.
6. Do not visit high foot-fall areas like markets, restaurants, malls, etc.
7. Carry your own bags while shopping.
8. Sanitize your hands before entering home.

 These are not official guidelines by the government, but can be followed additionally, if you value your staff/students and want to play a positive role in fighting the spread of a pandemic that we are can be better prepared for.