Wrap up work by this week, West Bengal schools told – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: The Bengal government has asked all state-run and aided schools to complete preparatory works by this week. The secondary and higher secondary schools have been asked to complete their first sanitisation by October-end, the second will be done ahead of school reopening.
The move is largely believed to be a precursor to state allowing school reopening by mid-November. The CBSE and the CISCE first semester offline examination schedule kicks off in the last two weeks in November.

Private schools affiliated to CBSE and CISCE are also waiting for more clarity from the Bengal government on reopening. While the respective boards have announced their offline semester one examination schedules, a formal notification by the state is required to allow students back to school. The present Covid guidelines in Bengal are effective till October 31, a notification is expected next week. The Covid spike has also added an element of uncertainty as far as school reopening is concerned. The Bengal government says neither CBSE nor the CISCE has sought the state’s inputs while announcing their offline examination schedule.
On Saturday, senior officials from Nabanna spoke to all district inspectors of schools via a video conference in which DIs were given a set of instructions to be sent to all school heads. Sources said the DIs were asked that the first round of cleaning and sanitisation of schools should be done within October 29. Interestingly, this was only mentioned for secondary and higher secondary schools. “We have learnt that in the first phase of reopening only students of classes IX to XII will be allowed. But let the government notice come first,” said a headmaster. Schools have also been asked to sensitise guardians and students, submit details of pending works and distribute activity tasks to students.
Chandan Maiti, general secretary of Advanced Society for Headmasters and Headmistresses, said, “A lot of work needs to be done in a week. The timeline may have to be extended.” Schools are shut for the last year-and-a-half and some district schools have been badly damaged by cyclones.
CBSE first published its datesheet for the Term 1 offline examination which will begin from November 30. CISCE on Friday declared dates of Semester 1 from November 22. A senior official of state education department said, “Two boards have declared dates for offline exams without discussing with the government. Centre is trying to impose their decision on us. But the state will decide final reopening date after considering Covid situation.” Principal of a CBSE school said, “We are hoping that around November 15 schools will reopen because it is absurd that offline exams are happening but formally the school is closed.” Another principal of a CISCE school said, “We will follow council instructions and are waiting for the directives from the state.”

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/wrap-up-work-by-this-wk-state-schools-told/articleshow/87244361.cms