Panaji: The task force of Goa government on Tuesday recommended that the classes from first to eighth standard can start from November 22.
The Task Force meeting chaired by Chief minister Pramod Sawant took stock of the existing COVID-19 situation in the state before deciding to go ahead for the school reopening from coming Monday onwards.
Talking to reporters, Sawant said that though the Task Force has recommended reopening of the schools, the State government will take a call on it only after considering the logistic issues.
He said that he has asked Education department to provide details of the schools or school complexes where there are more than 1,000 students.
“I have asked the department to give plan on how they will manage such a large number of students,” he said adding that the department will have to provide details of the infrastructure available in these schools before going ahead.
He said that when schools reopen all the SOPs would be followed by the concerned management.
Dean of Goa Medical College and Hospital Dr Shivanand Bandekar, who is also a part of Task Force, said that the covid positivity rate in the state has been consistently below one per cent due to which it was recommended that the schools can reopen.
“The schools and the students will have to follow appropriate covid behaviour,” he said adding that State Directorate of Health Services have been asked to design Standard Operating Protocol for the students.
He said that the state government can reconsider the decision of reopening the schools, if positivity rate increases.
