Dec. 17: Many schools of Kathmandu Valley have started resuming classes in physical presence of both teachers and students.

Though Kathmandu Valley is recognised as ‘high-risk’ area for the spread of coronavirus infection, schools are beginning to get back to the old ways with safety measures after the government issued School Resumption Working Guideline allowing schools’ operation.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) had issued the guideline two months ago. According to the guideline, local governments can consult with local stakeholders to decide about school opening.

As per the guideline, many local governments of the Kathmandu Valley have decided to resume classes in physical presence. Those governments have decided to run classes in alternate days, or in shift system.

In Kathmandu Valley, all local governments except Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Shankarapur Municipality of Kathmandu district have decided to resume classes in physical presence.

Nama Raj Dhakal, education officer of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said that they are in dialogue with local stakeholders discussing the ways to resume classes in the City. He added that the KMC will release the module to resume classes within this week.

Likewise, all local governments of Lalitpur district have also decided to resume classes in physical presence. After the decision of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Shram Jeet Kishor Madhyamik Vidyalaya had invited its students to attend the terminal examinations from Tuesday.

However, although the school hadn’t anticipated all of its students to show up, a huge number of students flocked the school premises, as a result of which, they had to postpone the exam to a later date. “The school will be deciding to run the classes and the examination in double shifts,” said school teacher Sarala Gautam.

Gautam further said that the school has decided to run classes in shift system to minimise students’ crowd.

The schools were closed for the last eight months after the government imposed nationwide lockdown to stop the virus spread.

All provinces of different districts have resumed in-person classes as per the decision of local governments. However, some of the reopened schools were compelled to shut down after the virus spread in the school premises.

source:risingnepal, 17 December 2020