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Offline classes resume in J&K after significant decline in cases
As the third wave of COVID-19 shows signs of ebbing, schools here resumed offline classes on Monday after the Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered phased opening of educational institutions across the union territory.
Moreover, the J&K recorded 245 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the infection count to 4,51,016, even as no death due to the virus was reported in the past 24 hours.
Students of classes 9 to 12, dressed in uniforms and carrying vaccination certificates, were seen thronging their institutions in Jammu and other districts of the region on Monday morning, officials said.
In an order issued on Sunday, the state executive committee had said all universities, colleges, polytechnic institutes and ITIs, and classes from 9 to 12 can commence their routine offline teaching by following Covid Appropriate Behaviour and standard operating procedures from February 14.
However, most of the educational institutions, including universities and colleges, remained closed and are likely to resume activities in a day or two after making necessary arrangements.
The officials said the attendance in both private and government high and higher secondary schools on Monday was low, but it was expected to pick up in the coming days.
A Jammu University official said since the order was issued on Sunday evening, they were finalizing the arrangements to reopen the university.
In summer zone schools, the offline mode of teaching for the remaining junior classes shall begin from February 21, allowing the students to attend school after over two years.
Offline teaching at all schools in the winter zone will commence after February 28.
Offline teaching at all schools in the winter zone will commence after February 28.
The schools situated in the winter zone of Kashmir and snow-bound parts of Jammu region are currently on winter vacation.
Welcoming the decision of the administration to open educational institutions, principal of Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, Rajeev Nagar, Rameshwar Mengi said, …it is a happy moment for all of us that the students are back in their classrooms.
Such a decision should have come long ago the young buds are the future of the country and the government should accord top priority to education , he said, noting that the online mode of education is no alternative to traditional schooling.
He said the school had made all necessary arrangements, including sanitization of classes, screening of students at the main gate and adequate availability of hand sanitizers.
Gourav Gupta, a class 9 student, said he is happy to be back on the school premises.
After remaining shut for about five months, educational institutions opened for classes 10 and above in September last year but the rising cases of COVID-19 forced the administration to shift back to online classes from October.
Meanwhile, University of Jammu on Monday said it will reopen its campuses for students from March 1, after COVID-19-induced closure.
University spokesperson Vinay Thusoo said the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by vice chancellor Manoj K Dhar and attended by all rectors, campus deans, directors, heads of departments, in-charge librarian and provost boys and girls.
“After detailed discussions, it was decided that the University of Jammu shall immediately notify all the guidelines on reopening of the campuses for students from March 1, Thusoo said.
Among fresh cases, 160 were from the Jammu division and 85 from the Kashmir division of the Union Territory, the officials said.
The officials said Doda district recorded a maximum of 65 new cases, followed by Jammu district which logged 38 such infections.
There are 4,903 active COVID-19 cases in the union territory, while the number of recoveries stands at 4,41,368, the officials said.
The death toll from the pandemic remained unchanged at 4,745 in the Union Territory.
