Covid-19 era: Sindh devises SOPs for schools

The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department's steering committee approved on Saturday pandemic-related guidelines to be observed at educational institutions, as the tentative date for the reopening of schools, September 15, drew nearer.

"There is an urgent need for all educators to get ready to reopen schools, for which school systems need contextually-relevant SOPs (standard operating procedures) for their effective operation in order to make schools safe learning places for students, teachers, and others," read a notification issued by the department regarding the matter.

It has been recommended under the newly-devised SOPs to conduct classes on Saturdays as well, limiting the weekly off from schools to just one day, and give home assignments so as to ensure the timely completion of syllabi. It is suggested that schools may continue to conduct classes on Saturdays until the pandemic is contained.

Any teachers or students showing symptoms of Covid-19 are not to be allowed entry to the schools, the SOPs further outline, adding it will be mandatory for all students and teaching and non-teaching staff to wear face masks, not taking them off even inside vans.

Transporters, as well as parents dropping off students at schools, will be required to stay at the gate until the student walks through the disinfectant gate and screened while entering the school. This has been suggested keeping in mind the possibility of any of the students recording high temperature, in which case he or she will have to return home. In this regard, parents have also been asked not to send their children to school if they have flu, cough or fever.

Only one gate is to be used for entry and exit from schools, with all others remaining closed, while transporters will be required to share their route maps with the relevant school's administration and make sure that their vehicles are not crowded.

To facilitate ill students, school management may organise online classes from them so that they may not lag behind others, it has recommended.

Also, parents may drop students off at schools themselves instead of in school vans, the SOPs read.

Moreover, schools have been asked to schedule classes for kindergarten, nursery, primary, lower secondary, secondary and upper secondary students in different shifts, which will help with observing social distancing at institutions. The institutions have further been directed to adjust schools timings and schedule classes so that large gatherings of students in classrooms can be avoided. Similarly, morning assemblies may be confined to classrooms with a limited number of students.

The SOPs, focusing on social distancing, also advise that teachers are not to crowd staff rooms.

Educational institutions' managements have been instructed to ensure regular cleaning and disinfecting of school buildings, as well as round-the-clock availability of water and sanitation facilities. As per the instructions, classrooms, washrooms, other areas, desks, chairs and others furniture, all is to be disinfected on a regular basis. Moreover, hand sanitisers and covered trash-cans should be placed at different spots on schools' premises.

Libraries, laboratories and offices should be spacious and well ventilated and doors to all rooms are to be kept open during school timings, the advisory suggests.

Meanwhile, canteens and cafeterias on schools' premise are to remain closed, and peddlers are to be restricted from selling items outside educational institutions. For the latter, the SOPs state, police and local administration's assistance may be sought.

With eateries on schools' premises remaining closed, students will be required to bring their own lunch and water bottles after the commencement of in-class sessions. They are also to wash their hands regularly and be restricted from sharing stationery.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2020.