Education institutions, hostels in Telangana to reopen on September 1

IANS photo

New Delhi: A high-level review meeting held at Pragati Bhavan, chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, has decided to reopen all private and public educational institutions in the state, from KG to PG, including Anganwadis, from September 1. The Chief Minister has directed the ministers and officials of the Panchayati Raj and Municipal Departments to clean and sanitize all educational institutions and hostels in villages and towns by August 30.

A high-level review meeting chaired by CM KCR was held at Pragati Bhavan on Monday on the issue of the reopening of closed educational institutions in the wake of coronavirus. 

Speaking after high level meeting with top officials, CM KCR said, "The education in the state has hit due to the corona. The closure of educational institutions has created chaos in educational allied sectors, including students and parents, as well as private school teachers. In this context, the meeting also discussed on the steps being taken by the respective governments of various states across the country for the re-opening of educational institutions and the strategies being followed by them. Corona conditions across the state were discussed with state medical officials. They have submitted reports stating that spread of corona has come under control in the state."

The officials reported that the corona came under control in the state more than in the past. At present, commuting of people in the state is coming to a normal level.  The Health Department officials brought to the attention of the meeting that continuous closure of educational institutions has upsurged the psychological stress levels in school going students, this will have adverse effect on their future. 

In this context, the government has decided to re-open all educational institutions in the state from September 1, taking into account of the views expressed by all the official in the review meeting, and all the prerequisites for students pursuing education in private and public educational institutions, from KG to PG. 

Panchayati Raj and Municipal Departments are responsible for sanitization:

The Chief Minister clarified that due to the closure of schools, the Panchayati Raj and Municipal Departments must take up the responsibility of sanitation in all the educational institutions in villages and towns. The Chief Minister reiterated that sarpanches and Municipal Chairmen should take the responsibility of sanitizing the premises of educational institutions and keep them clean. 

With the reopening of schools in a week's time, by the end of august, special care should be taken to clean all the toilets, and clean the premises with sodium chloride, bleaching powder. The CM instructed the Sarpanches and Municipal Chairmen to clean the water tanks and sanitize the classrooms. 

All the Zilla Parishad chairpersons, Mandal Parishad Presidents should tour in their respective districts and mandals and check whether the schools are sanitized and kept clean. 

District DPOs, ZP CEOs, MPVOs, MPDOs, DPOs and MPVOs should take the responsibility of reviewing and confirming on the sanitization of educational institutions. All the government educational institutions under any circumstances need to complete the process of sanitization by the 30th of this month.

Precautions for students:

The Chief Minister said that after the reopening of the residential schools, if a student in residential school has a fever, the principals and headmaster of the respective schools should immediately take them to the nearest PHC and conduct COVID tests. If the child tested positive, the child should be handed over to their parents. All the students attending schools should follow precautionary measures by wearing masks, sanitizing frequently. CM KCR urged parents who are sending their children to educational institutions to make sure that their children wear masks every day and follow COVID protocols strictly. 

Alert on seasonal diseases:

As there is a possibility of outbreak of seasonal diseases in the wake of monsoon, CM KCR held a review meeting on precautionary measures to curtail the seasonal diseases with Panchayati Raj Minister, officials.

In view of corona, everyone should be alert to seasonal fever, suspected patients should undergo tests and diagnosed. The CM directed the medical department to make arrangements for conduct of  tests and treatment in the dispensaries.   

The Chief Minister also directed the officials of the Panchayati Raj Municipal Departments to take measures to maintain cleanliness across the state. They need to take special action to control mosquitoes in villages and towns and to see that water is not stagnated. 
Larvae control programs such as IRS and fogging should be actively pursued. The CM said that necessary medicines and other equipment should be procured.

People are urged to ensure that water is not stagnated in their homes and that children should be taken care of elders so that they do not get infected.

Until the end of this monsoon season, the medical department, Panchayat Raj and Municipal officials should remain vigilant and take steps to control seasonal diseases.