Biratnagar Metropolitan City has given permission to educational institutions, both public and private, to resume classes from December 17. Classes in the metropolis will be conducted in two shifts.

Durga Khatiwada, chief at the Education Section of the metropolis, said they will ensure that all safety measures are in place before the classes are resumed. They have also sought permission from the guardians to resume classes, he added.

All schools have remained closed since March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Khatiwada, the metropolis saw the need to reopen schools to compensate for the classes lost due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“This academic year ends in mid-April so if we don’t start classes now it will be difficult to catch up later,” he said. “We have directed all schools to sanitise classrooms every day; masks are compulsory and so is social distancing on the school premises. Every shift will be only three hours long. The metropolis has also formed a committee to inspect schools after the classes resume.”

There are 76 government and 105 private schools in the metropolitan city. Likewise, there are 150 other child development associations. Other local units in Morang have resumed classes since November 30.

In Itahari, the Education Division of the Itahari Sub Metropolitan City is going to reopen schools after conducting a meeting of headmasters on December 15.

“The division will inspect whether the schools have met the needed standard or not before allowing them to resume classes. Until Monday, 34 government schools and 84 private schools submitted their proposals to reopen schools,” said Ambika Shah, chief at the Education Division.

According to the division, they have been preparing to reopen schools by taking feedback from all stakeholders, including the school management committees, parents and teachers.

“We have managed soaps and water in the schools. And we will ensure that everyone in the classroom will follow proper social distancing measures,” said Subarna Thapa, the city chairman of PABSON in Itahari.

Meanwhile in Khotang, all schools have resumed classes by following health safety measures.

Deepa Narayan Rai, mayor of Diktel Rupakot Municipality in Khotang, said, “Schools in our local unit resumed classes almost a month ago by following health safety measures. We have a corona focal person (teacher) in each school.” Currently, 94 government and 11 private schools are operating in 15 wards of the municipality.

Likewise, Halesi Tuwachung Municipality, Rawabesi, Aayselukharka, Kepilasgadhi, Jantedhunga and Khotehang Rural Municipality in Khotang also resumed classes during mid-November to mid-December.

In Ilam, both government and private schools are conducting classes on an alternate-day basis.

(With inputs from our correspondents in Province 1)