Manipur Education department held a review meeting to check the feasibility and modalities of re-opening of schools in the post COVID-19 period.
The meeting on Thursday was chaired by the state education minister Dr Thokchom Radheshyam.
It was attended by commissioner, Education (S) T Ranjit; director, Education (S), Th Kirankumar; joint secretary L Nandakumar, additional director of Schools/Hill & Valley, Education Engineering Wing and Zonal Education Officers (ZEO).
Also read: No school in Philippines till coronavirus vaccine available
Other agendas of the meeting included timely completion of incomplete construction works, school uniform and shortages of teachers, official sources said.
In his deliberation, Radheshyam said the pandemic has not only affected all walks of life, but has hit the education sector adding closures of schools have not only affected the school, academics but also the psychology of the children.
Also read: Govt advised not to open schools before Aug 31 in Arunachal
He reminded the ZEOs to be more vigilant and proactive to ensure that all guidelines and protocols of the lockdown are strictly adhered to while implementing the directives of the government.
During the meeting, Dr Th Radheshyam also directed to set December, 2020 as target for completion of all the pending components of civil works approved by HRD ministry.
Also read: Mizoram to re-open schools on July 15
Issues and objections on completion of the said works should be identified to meet targets, he added.
Commissioner, Education (S) Ranjit emphasized that all the required SoP shall have to be issued and followed before normalcy is achieved while director Education (S) Kirankumar expressed that safety and the welfare of the students are to be kept paramount for re-opening of the schools.
Also read: No school till COVID-19 case zero or vaccine invented: Parents’ body
He also said all stakeholders, in particular the Health Department, Home Department would have to be consulted before taking any decisions for reopening of schools.