Guidelines for Schools when Reopen post COVID-19 Lockdown
Worldwide
closure of Educational Institutions has impacted over 95% of the Worlds
Students population with 1.5 billion learners’ unable to attend College and
Schools. Indian Education System is the World’s largest with 1000+
Universities, 41,000 Colleges, 3,10,000 Schools with closely 320 million
Students population. The govt will take a decision on reopening of schools and
colleges on after reviewing the coronavirus situation in the country. They are
our biggest treasure. Safety of students and teachers is of utmost importance
to the government and his ministry is prepared to ensure there is no academic
loss to students if schools and colleges needed to remain shut beyond April.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Information
Technology (IIITs) will not increase the tuition fee for any course for
academic year 2020-21. IIT Kharagpur has created an online forum to help
stranded foreign students at the institute share their problems faced during
the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. IIM
Calcutta has pushed its opening date to July. The institute’s director Anju
Seth said that they would focus more on blended learning programmed, and would
extend this to more geographies. UGC panel recommends academic session in
varsities from Sept, online exams wherever possible. UNODC launches series of
online dialogues with students & educators in India on COVID-19. Tripura
Education minister Ratan Lal Nath on Sunday said all students of Class 1 to 9
and 11 have been promoted to the next class and virtual classes started for
state school students in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Maximum News channel
start online classes for each subject & each chaperwise, like ABP Ananda in
Bengali. So every corner of education sector are going to online learning due
to COVID-19. Now we need to know some facts about COVID-19. Today due to COVID-19
situation all our students are sitting at home and no hope of reopening of
campuses before September 2020 and most of these students from long days unable
to move out include not able to meet their friends and play.
What is COVID-19
COVID-19
is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’
for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019
novel coronavirus’ or ‘2019-nCoV.
The COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of common cold.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms
can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. In more severe cases,
infection can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the
disease can be fatal. These symptoms are similar to the flu (influenza) or the
common cold, which are a lot more common than COVID-19. This is why testing is
required to confirm if someone has COVID-19.
How does COVID-19 spread?
The virus
is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected
person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be
infected from and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching
their face (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth). The COVID-19 virus may survive on
surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it.
The
outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and the virus has now spread to many
countries and territories.
The
protection of children and educational facilities is particularly important.
Precautions are necessary to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in school
settings; however, care must also be taken to avoid stigmatizing students and
staff who may have been exposed to the virus. It is important to remember that
COVID-19 does not differentiate between borders, ethnicities, disability
status, age or gender. Education settings should continue to be welcoming,
respectful, inclusive, and supportive environments to all. Measures taken by
schools can prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 by students and staff who
may have been exposed to the virus, while minimizing disruption and protecting
students and staff from discrimination.
Key Messages & Actions for school administrators,
teachers & Staff
Following basic principles can help keep students, teachers,
and staff safe at school
·
sick
students, teachers and other staff should not come to school.
·
Schools
should enforce regular hand washing with safe water and soap, alcohol rub/hand
sanitizer or chlorine solution and, at a minimum, daily disinfection and
cleaning of school surfaces.
·
Schools
should promote social distancing, only two students can come. Seating
arrangement also be spread.
·
Schools
should provide water, sanitation and waste management facilities and follow
environmental cleaning and decontamination procedures.
·
Set
Class room or teachers room temperature should under 24 DegC to 30 DegC. Relative humidity within 40% - 70%.
Disinfect school buildings
Clean and disinfect
school buildings, classrooms and especially water and sanitation facilities at
least once a day, particularly surfaces that are touched by many people (Chair-table,
elevator, railings, lunch tables, sports equipment, door and window handles,
toys, entrance electronic gate, teaching and learning aids etc) or restricted
area (Lab equipment, AC, DVR/NVR, Amplifier, any type controller, Fire Panel,
Pump House, Hose, Fire Extinguisher, Reader etc) through Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2). This
sanitizer not applicable for Human / students / teachers skin. Primarily as a
cleaning and disinfecting agent.
SANITIZING
TUNNELS are disinfecting passageways for human use if sprays are non-flammable
& non-toxic Super oxidized water Hypochlorous acid (HOCL). If purchase from
vendor, vendor should share Lab test report & national or international
certificate.
Carry out
the visual inspections of the distribution boards, switch boards. This is to
ensure that during lock down insects have not got trapped in the electrical
apparatus. If possible, get the earth values check of the earth pits.
Ensure
that all stand by equipment’s are tested for the operations, such as DG sets.
16. Ensure to have those equipment’s in auto mode, if they were kept in auto mode
prior to the lock down.
Lift
operator should strictly use gloves and mask during duty hours.
Verify CCTV System
CCTV
surveillance is now an integral part of the school, collage across the world.
Visual inspection of all the components for any kind of damage or loose
connections, which might have happened during the lockdown period.
Verify
CCTV video footage of each camera and all the recorders (DVR/NVR/Servers etc.)
for last 60days. Must be implement thermal image scanning body temperature
camera. It can be handheld / tripod standing type.
Student
Announcement or class bell system is integral part of the school, collage
across the world. Visual inspection of all the components for any kind of
damage or loose connections, which might have happened during the lockdown
period along with proper functionality of all the speakers through announcement.
Verify Fire Detection & Protection System
Visual
inspection of all the components for any kind of damage or loose connections,
which might have happened during the lockdown period alongwith check any fault
indication on panel.
Test
Detection system through fauls smoke (using aerosol) & Pulling MCP and chk
notification signal, other hand test fire Electrically Driven Main (Hydrant /
Sprinkler/ Jockey) pump start value stop value, Diesel Driven Pumps etc.
Checked all fire Extinguisher are in correct place and healthy.
Monitor school attendance
Strictly
avoid attendance thru fingerprint based biometric machines instead use face/eye
scanning biometric machines or wave-based machine. Visual inspection of all the
components for any kind of damage or loose connections, which might have
happened during the lockdown period Implement school absenteeism monitoring
systems to track student and staff absence and compare against usual
absenteeism patterns at the school. If Body temp screening camera not installed
then implement thermal Face scanning Solution can be integrate with attendance
solution.
Adapt school policies where appropriate
Develop
flexible attendance and sick leave policies that encourage students and staff
to stay home when sick or when caring for sick family members.
Establish procedures if students or staff become unwell
Update
emergency contact lists. Ensure a procedure for separating sick students and
staff from those who are well – without creating stigma – and a process for
informing parents/caregivers, and consulting with health care providers/health
authorities wherever possible.
Checklist on Safe School Environments
· Promote
and demonstrate regular hand washing and positive hygiene behaviors.
·
Ensure
adequate, clean and separate toilets or latrines for girls and boys.
·
Place
hand sanitizers in toilets, classrooms, halls, and near exits where possible.
·
Ensure
soap and safe water is available at age-appropriate hand washing stations.
·
Encourage
frequent and thorough washing (at least 20 seconds).
·
Increase
air flow and ventilation where climate allows (open windows, use air
conditioning where available, etc.).
·
Ensure
trash is removed daily and disposed of safely.
·
Meetings
should be done through video conferencing only.
Key Messages & Actions for Parents
& Community Members
COVID-19
is a new virus and we are still learning about how it affects children.
Understand
basic information about coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including its symptoms,
complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission.
Remember
that symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough or fever can be similar to those of the
flu, or the common cold, which are a lot more common.
Instead of
keeping children out of school, teach them good hand and respiratory hygiene
practices for school and elsewhere, like frequent handwashing (see below),
covering a cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throwing away
the tissue into a closed bin, and not touching their eyes, mouths or noses if
they haven’t properly washed their hands.
Checklist for Parents & Community
Members
·
Monitor
your child’s health and keep them home from school if they are ill.
·
Wash
your hands with soap and safe water frequently. If soap and water are not
readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60%
alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water, if hands are visibly dirty.
·
Ensure
that safe drinking water is available and toilets or latrines are clean and
available at home.
·
Cough
and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and avoid touching your face, eyes,
mouth, nose.
·
Encourage
your children to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their
teachers.
·
Coordinate
with the school to receive information and ask how you can support school
safety efforts (though parent-teacher committees, etc.)
Key Messages & Actions for Students
& Children
Children
and young people should understand basic, age-appropriate information about
coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including its symptoms, complications, how it
is transmitted and how to prevent transmission.
Checklist for Students & Children
·
In
a situation like this it is normal to feel sad, worried, confused, scared or
angry. Know that you are not alone and talk to someone you trust, like your
parent or teacher so that you can help keep yourself and your school safe and
healthy.
·
Protect
yourself and others like: Remember to not touch your face, Do not share cups,
eating utensils, food or drinks with others.
·
Share
what you learn about preventing disease with your family and friends,
especially with younger children.
·
Model
good practices such as sneezing or coughing into your elbow and washing your
hands, especially for younger family members.
Below are suggestions on
how to engage students of different ages on preventing and controlling the
spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
Checklist for Preschool
· Sing
a song while washing their hands with hand sanitizer to practice the
recommended 20 second duration.
·
Use
puppets or dolls to demonstrate symptoms (sneezing, coughing, fever) and what
to do if they feel sick (i.e. their head hurts, their stomach hurts, they feel
hot or extra tired).
·
Children
sit further apart from one another, have them practice stretching their arms
out or ‘flap their wings’, they should keep enough space to not touch their
friends.
Checklist for Primary School
·
Introduce
the concept of social distancing (standing further away from friends, avoiding
large crowds, not touching people if you don’t need to, etc.)
·
Understand
the basic concepts of disease prevention and control. Use exercises that
demonstrate how germs can spread. For example, by putting colored water in a
spray bottle and spraying over a piece of white paper.
·
Discuss
the different reactions they may experience and explain that these are normal
reactions to an abnormal situation.
Checklist for Lower Secondary School
· Make
sure to listen to students’ concerns and answer their questions.
· Focus
on good health behaviors, such as covering coughs and sneezes with the elbow.
· Discuss
the different reactions they may experience and explain these are normal
reactions to an abnormal situation. Encourage them to express and communicate
their feelings.
·
Relevant
health education like:
· Science
can cover the study of viruses, disease transmission and the importance of
vaccinations.
Checklist for Upper Secondary School
·
Make
sure to listen to students’ concerns and answer their questions.
·
Focus
on good health behaviors, such as covering coughs and sneezes with the elbow
and washing hands Encourage students to prevent and address stigma.
·
Have
students make their own Public Service Announcements via social media, radio or
even local tv broadcasting
·
Science
courses can cover the study of viruses, disease transmission and the importance
of vaccinations.
·
Social
studies can focus on the history of pandemics and their secondary effects and
investigate how public policies can promote tolerance and social cohesion.
·
Discuss
the different reactions they may experience and explain these are normal
reactions to an abnormal situation. Encourage them to express and communicate
their feelings.
Ref:
If you found this artical is gain your knowledge then you can donate some amount through below bank details:-
A/C Name: Arindam Bhadra
A/C no: 19251050015468.
Name of Bank: HDFC BANK.
Branch: Belgharia.
RTGS/NEFT IFSE: HDFC0001925
Your Active support is highly appreciated to continue / maintain this blog.
