National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has made eight recommendations for obeying educational institutions after opening.
The committee has also been said that everyone in the educational institution has to make sure that they wear masks. The only exception to this is to take legal action (except for children under the age of 5 and in accordance with World Health Organization policies).
Centrally all students are required to arrange and distribute appropriate quality and appropriate size masks as well as other hygiene practices such as hand hygiene (hand washing / setting up of hand disinfection station) and general hygiene.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) needs to be prepared by the appropriate authority as per the advice of the Department of Health in this regard.
The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the consultants, according to a press release sent to the media on Monday.
At least 60 percent of teachers and staff in educational institutions must be vaccinated against coronavirus, the statement said. They will be able to join the educational institution after 14 days of the second dose of vaccine. However, in some cases, one may be allowed to join educational institution 14 days after the first dose.
Students above the age of 18 should be vaccinated in higher education institutions.
Specific classes can be shared on which days of the week to control gatherings in classrooms and educational institutions. In addition, the educational institutions should be kept open for a short period of time in the beginning so that there is no need to open the mask for taking food.
Closing of cafeterias, dining, TV/sports rooms, etc. of educational institutions with residential facilities. Arrange for direct food delivery from the kitchen to the rooms. Refrain from using the same bed for multiple students. Adherence to specific instructions in the case of simultaneous prayers, religious gatherings, etc. in the madrasa.
Before reopening the educational institution, teachers, students, parents and other employees of the institution should be given a clear idea about the ‘do’s and don’ts’ work through orientation.
This orientation can be arranged physically with limited presence and limited distance but online sessions can be held if required.
Students who have symptoms of Covid-19 should also have quarantine / isolation at home and instructions for their care while they are in quarantine / isolation. Students who are diagnosed with the disease or have any of these symptoms in their family or who are diagnosed with Covid-19 disease should be allowed to stay for 14 days without being considered absent.Infections between teachers, students and other staff of the educational institution should be monitored and reported daily. Teachers, students and other staff of selected educational institutions need to prepare and implement protocols for sample testing and surveillance.
Educational institutions in districts that have labs can be selected for this surveillance.
There should be more intensive surveillance in the districts where the rate of infection is higher.
Monitoring team should be formed and monitored daily to ensure proper observance of all prohibitions.
Chairman of the committee Prof. Mohammad Sahidullah presided over the meeting. Education Minister at the invitation of the committee Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain and secretaries of the concerned ministries took part in the discussion.
