Welcoming the government decision on reopening educational institutions the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has provided some directives to follow.
These suggestions were given in a circular signed by the chairman of NTAC Professor Mohammad Shahidullah on Monday night.
The committee said that if the government reopens schools and other educational institutions, the following issues must be considered:
A. In accordance with the following, all schools and educational institutions except pre-schools may be reopened.
B. Ensure wearing face masks by all in school and educational institution students and staff members and take legal action in case of violation (except for children under 5 years of age and in accordance with WHO guidelines).
Arranging and distributing masks of appropriate quality and size to all students. At the same time, other public health measures such as keeping hands clean (setting up hand washing / disinfection stations) and adhering to general hygiene. In this regard, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) needs to be prepared by the appropriate authority as per the advice of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
At least 80 percent of teachers and staff in schools and educational institutions must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus, and will be able to join the school 14 days after completion of the second dose. However, in certain cases, one may be allowed to join the educational institution 14 days after the 1st dose.
Initiative will have to be taken to jab students above the age of 18 in higher educational institutions.
Specific classes can be divided into specific days to reduce gatherings in the classroom and in the educational institution. For example, in the beginning, except for the classes of the examinees being kept ongoing every day, all the other classes can be kept open one / two days a week. The class will be open on a certain day.
Students in that class will be able to use other empty classrooms to sit within certain distances. In addition, regular morning gatherings should not be allowed.
In this regard, a SOP needs to be prepared by the appropriate authority as per the advice of DGHS.
In addition, the educational institution may be kept open for a short period of time at the beginning, so that there is no need to open the mask for taking food.
The following suggestions apply to residential schools and educational institutions (including madrasas):
All meeting places (cafeteria, dining, TV / sports room, etc.) should be closed, and food should be provided directly from the kitchen to the rooms.
Multiple students will refrain from using the same bed.
Adherence to specific instructions for simultaneous prayers, gatherings, etc. in the madrasa.
In this regard, a SOP needs to be prepared by the appropriate authority as per the advice of DGHS.
Before reopening the educational institution, teachers, students, parents and other employees of the institution should be given a clear idea about the guidelines to be followed through an orientation.
These orientations can be arranged physically with limited presence and maintaining limited distance, but online sessions can be held if necessary. Leaflets containing information on this can be published and distributed and do's and don'ts can be disseminated through the media and local cable lines.
Students who show symptoms of Covid-19 should be sent to quarantine / isolation at home. Whoever diagnosed with the disease or someone in their family who has such symptoms of Covid-19 should be allowed to stay at home for 14 days without being considered absent.
Before reopening the educational institution, teachers, students, parents and other employees of the institution should be given a clear idea about the work to be done and the work to be done through an orientation.
These orientations can be arranged physically with limited presence and limited distance, but online sessions can be held if necessary. Leaflets containing information on this can be created and distributed and do's and don'ts can be disseminated through the media and local cable lines.
Students who have symptoms of Covid-19 should have quarantine / isolation at home and instruction for their care while in quarantine / isolation. Students who are diagnosed with the disease or someone in their family who has such symptoms or Covid-19 disease should be allowed to stay at home for 14 days without being considered absent.
Infections between teachers, students and other staff in schools and educational institutions need to be monitored and reported daily. Teachers, students and other staff of selected schools and educational institutions need to prepare and implement protocols for sample testing and surveillance. Schools and educational institutions in the districts where labs are available can be selected for surveillance.
In districts where the infection rate is high, the detection rate is more than 20 percent or the number of cases is increasing (30% more cases this week than the previous week), there should be more intensive surveillance.
Daily monitoring should be done by forming monitoring team to ensure proper maintenance of all restrictions.
Earlier, the 45th online meeting of NTAC on Covid-19 was held on September 2. The meeting discussed in detail about the opening of educational institutions. At the special invitation of the committee, the Minister of Education, State Minister of Education, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education and secretaries of the concerned ministries attended the meeting and took part in the discussion.
The meeting discussed the current situation and future activities to ensure safety and vaccination.