Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar to hold meeting with parents today

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar will hold a meeting with parents of students today before schools reopen for grades 8 to 12 from October 4.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday released detailed guidelines for the reopening of all schools in Mumbai for grades 8 to 12 from October 4.

BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Wednesday that the civic body will reopen schools for grades 8 to 12 from October 4 and the rest the decision will be made in November.

Last week, the state’s education minister, Varsha Gaikwad, announced that the government of Maharashtra had decided to reopen schools from October 4.

She informed that the schools will be reopened gradually. “In rural areas, classes will resume from 5th to 12th standard and in urban areas from 8th to 12th standard. Local authorities have been empowered to monitor guidelines set by the government.”

Consult the complete list of directives issued by the BMC:

1. Approval of the school management committee and parental consent

I. The school management committee should discuss with the parent-teacher association (PTA) the reopening of schools and the detailed planning thereof.

ii. Parental consent is required for students to attend school. The school administration must make sure of this.

2. Map the school with the nearest primary health center:

I. All school administrators are required to link their respective schools to the nearest primary health center so that health facilities can be made available to students when needed.

ii. If a student with fever, cold, shortness of breath, scratching of the body, redness of the eyes, chapped and reddened lips, swelling of the fingers, hands and joints, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain is observed, arrangements should be made to immediately take to the health facility.

iii. If the child is facing physical or mental difficulties, this should be reported to his parents through a teacher or a member of the SMC and guide them to get to the medical check-up and medication.

3. Safety and preparation:

I. Before starting school, it is necessary that all teachers and non-teaching staff in that school be vaccinated, otherwise the RTPCR test for Covid-19 must be done 48 hours before. The certificate / report issued by the laboratory for this test must be verified by the school management committee.

ii. According to the instructions of the Union Ministry of Health and Family, all employees who are at a higher risk level under COVID-19, such as older employees, employees with disabilities, pregnant women and employees who undergoing medical treatment should be more careful and not come into direct contact with students

iii. Entrance and exit should be separated if possible for schoolchildren and staff. A separate schedule should be established for this in order to avoid congestion at school.

iv. If a member of the student’s family tests positive for Covid, that student should not be sent to school but should be kept in home quarantine.

v. No one other than pupils and school staff should be allowed to enter school premises except for urgent work.

vi. The thermal scanning of each student must be carried out daily upon entering the school. In case of suspicious symptoms of any type of illness, immediately inform the parents and the primary health center.

vii. If a student or school staff test positive for Xovid, the principal should immediately close the school and disinfect the school, isolate them and begin medical treatment on the advice of the medical officer.

viii. In the event that a school staff member or student is suspected of Covid-19, he / she should be kept in a room separate from others and he / she should receive immediate medical treatment. Care must be taken that these students do not feel distant and afraid.

ix. Students should be accustomed to entering and leaving school in a queue with social distancing

X. Masks are mandatory for everyone at all times.

xi. Make a habit of washing your hands with soap / hand wash when needed.

xii. The ban on spitting must be strictly enforced.

xiii. Teachers need to ensure that too many students do not congregate in one place.

xiv. Schools and classrooms should be disinfected regularly.

xv. Toilets / bathrooms should be cleaned at regular intervals using appropriate disinfectants.

xvi. Frequent cleaning and disinfection of classrooms and exterior classroom surfaces such as toilet handles, study materials, teaching materials, desks, tables, chairs, etc. must be performed.

xvii. Air conditioning systems in classrooms should not be used when needed, the temperature of air conditioners should be kept above 24 ° C. Windows and doors should be kept clean and fully open so that there is air circulation.

xviii. Everywhere, guidelines regarding physical distancing, the use of masks, etc. should be displayed.

XIX. Special panels such as squares, circles, etc. should be used to avoid queues at places such as drinking water points, hand washing facilities, toilets, etc.

xx. Assemblies, rallies, annual day functions and other similar events which may lead to a large gathering of students should not be organized.

xxi. All waste in and around the school should be disposed of regularly.

xxii. Limit the number of people using the elevator.

4. Awareness and mobilization program:

I. Awareness programs should be organized in collaboration with parents, members of the school management committee, representatives of the people, alumni, teachers, NGOs, social workers, etc.

ii. it is important to raise awareness of the importance of reopening the school and of student safety through local dailies, social networks (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) etc.

5. Seating arrangement:

I. Minor repairs to school buildings should be done immediately.

ii. Only one student should be seated on a desk bench in each zigzag classroom following social distancing criteria. If possible, the student should have a fixed place to sit every day. The standard wise arrangement of student seats, along with their seating position and time, should be displayed in front of each classroom.

iii. A class should have a maximum of fifteen to twenty students at a time.

6. School attendance:

I. The presence of students at school is not compulsory and will depend entirely on parental consent.

ii. 100% Attendance is not compulsory.

iii. Rewards / certificates for 100% participation should not be given due to the Covid-19 situation. In the future, after the pandemic, such rewards may be given to students.

iv. If the number of students is greater, the students can be called in two sessions per day. The duration of the course itself should not exceed 3 to 4 hours. There shouldn’t be a lunch break.

v. If the number of students is greater, group the students as needed and according to their group (50% of students per group) should be called every other day.

7. Teaching – Learning:

I. During the first one to two weeks, students should be allowed to get used to school without focusing on direct learning

ii. Distribute textbooks, notebooks, etc. students

iii. Teachers must review the completed program online in the 2020-21 academic year and must make decisions accordingly.

iv. Each teacher is required to make an academic plan for the year including the educational level of the students in his class.

v. Arrangements should be made for children to carry a minimum of textbooks or notebooks.

vi. Students should be encouraged to learn using the Diksha app and the educational videos available on the BMC YouTube channel / MCGM website.

vii. Each week, each teacher should organize an online meeting of parents to inform them about the topics taught during the week as well as to discuss the help needed from parents.

viii. Students should be invited to submit their homework online. Teachers must ensure that there is no exchange of books.

8. Advice:

I. Understand each student’s journey and interact with students accordingly.

ii. Special care should be taken to interact and communicate with students showing signs / symptoms such as excessive irritability, irritability and frustration with small things, showing no interest in anything, showing behavior inconsistent with age (e.g. changes in eating and sleeping habits), abnormal decline in learning abilities, etc.

iii. Provide information on Covid disease and its prevention.

iv. Students with a positive history for Covid should be treated like normal students.

v. Teachers should resolve doubts / answer questions raised by parents through online / offline mode.

vi. If students do not follow directions, this should be reported to their parents.

9. Precautions to be taken when leaving school:

I. Only one student is allowed on a seat in the school bus / private vehicle.

ii. Sheet masks should be washed regularly. Teachers should educate parents about this.

iii. After returning from school, students must change their uniforms. Used school uniforms should be washed daily with soap / detergents. Schools can make school uniforms optional.

iv. Teacher-parent meetings should be held online. Education should be provided to students up to VlI class via online / offline medium without calling them at school.

v. A checklist of all activities to follow should be posted at school. Daily SMC members / one of the parents should check the actions taken according to the list.

vi. All supervisory officers should visit the school in a planned manner to ensure that the school is operating in a safe and clean environment in accordance with the above guidelines and provide appropriate guidance as needed, also in coordination with the respective deputy commissioners and officials from the Ministry of Health.

Posted on: Friday October 01, 2021, 2:50 p.m. IST