Junaid Ahmad
Srinagar April 02 (KINS): Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Jammu and Kashmir administration Friday said they are closely monitoring the situation for safety of students in schools.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and hold discussions on daily basis to ensure safety of students. We have also decided to suspend the class work on the day of examination so that candidates maintain proper distance in examination centres,” Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
He said authorities are holding examinations for class 10th, 11th and 12th in April. “All precautions are being made for candidates as there has been increase in positive cases,” he said.
About reluctance of parents for sending their children to schools, Bhatnagar said, “If somebody does not want to come to school fearing he or she might get infected, teachers have been told to hold online classes for such students.”
Over the past two weeks, there has been surge in positive cases. Many schools have been closed after their several students and teachers were found positive. The schools were opened for the students of 9th to 12th classes from March 1, 2021 and for 6th to 8th classes from March 8, almost a year after they were closed in March 2020 owing to the pandemic. The government also allowed opening of primary schools after March 15.
Meanwhile, the government has asked the Deputy Commissioners in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir to take a final call as to whether physical classes or online classes shall be held for the safety of the students.
According to the government order issued today, the government said that it has been observed that surge of pandemic COVID-19 has wide variation among districts. “In view of issue, decision regarding running of physical classes vis a vis online classes requires to be taken at district level by the Competent Authority.”
“I am directed to convey that all the District Magistrates, Chairman of DDMAs of Kashmir and Jammu Divisions shall take a call on the continuation of academic activities that is physical classes or online classes in their respective jurisdiction, keeping in view the safety of the students and present trend of Pandemic COVID-19 in different districts,” it reads. (KINS)
