Srinagar, April 04: As the administration ordered temporary closure of schools in Jammu and Kashmir amid rise in covid-19, the education department has asked the teachers to attend the duties till a decision is taken by the government.
The announcement brings to question the rationale of the education department when there are no students to teach. Also, it brings to question if the teachers are safe from covid-19 and cannot contract the pathogen while commuting when same can be avoided.
Secretary School Education Department (SED) B K Singh told GNS that no decision has been taken as regards the attending of the duties.
“As of now they have to attend the duties as schools have been closed for students only. They have to take online classes from schools,” he said.
Asked if same cannot be done from their residences and what is the need for unnecessarily calling them to attend the schools. “I will request them (higher authorities) to inform what to do,” he added.
In an statement here, officials said that in order to contain the recent spike in number of COVID-19 cases, the government has decided to close all schools upto 9th class for two weeks while as from10th to 12th classes, schools will be closed for a week starting Monday.
An order issued in this regard today stated that the decision was taken after overall assessment of the situation pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir and the trend in new cases particularly the recent spike in the number of daily reported cases of infection and the likelihood of young children getting infected and transmitting infection in large numbers was conducted.
“On the basis of the above assessment, the State Executive Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred up on it under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act. 2005, hereby orders that:
All schools in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir up to and including class 9 shall compulsorily remain closed till 18.04. 2021″, the order read.
It added that the classes 10 to 12 in all schools shall remain closed till 11. 04.2021while as exams for classes 10 and 12 shall be held as per ther schedule.
The order also read that there shall be a ceiling of 200 persons on all kinds of social and customary gatherings, functions, subject to strict adherence of COVID protocol already prevalent in this connections.
The order further reads that COVID SOPs, already issued on 30.03.2021, shall continue to apply in all cases. (GNS)