Chennai: After a ten-month break due to Covid, schools for classes nine and eleven, undergraduate and post-graduation classes in all streams as well as technical and engineering colleges across Tamilnadu will resume from today.
The administration has gone all out to ensure that the institutions function without any hassles, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) insisting strict compliance with its guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Some of these are following the six-day schedule on shift-basis, physical distancing norms, ensuring students and staff members wear masks at all times, use of thermal scanners and sanitising and disinfecting the campus everyday.
Management of the colleges have been asked to make use of Aarogya Setu app wherever feasible.
As per the instructions of the Health Department, not more than 25 students are allowed to be seated in a classroom, and they must be further provided with zinc and vitamin tablets to boost their immunity.
The UGC also said: “Students will be compulsorily submitting self-disclosure if any of their family members have been infected with Covid-19, but discrimination over the same should be avoided”.
As for schools, these are asked to adhere to the earlier instructions that were issued when students of 10 and 12 resumed classes.
According to a circular by the Department of School Education, schools that are large enough to ensure physical distancing can have full working days from Monday to Saturday.
The others can decide on conducting classes on alternate days or following a shift-based system.
“If schools are holding classes in morning and evening shifts for batches of students, the premises would have to be disinfected and sanitised before the evening shift begins”, it said.
Institutions are instructed to make use of auditoriums and libraries to ensure physical distancing during classes.
Hostel and mess authorities have been asked to avoid overcrowding and regulate the timings for students.