Chennai

Following fresh feedback from academicians and health experts, the authorities are also discussing whether to link schools with nearby public health centres even it institutions are opened in January.

A senior official from the School Education Department told DT Next on Thursday that the government was planning to reopen schools, especially for board exam students in January, after Pongal. “However, looking at IIT-Madras and Anna University virus spread, besides test results of other higher education institutions which are expected soon, authorities are considering postponing opening of schools till normalcy is restored,” he added.

Referring to ICMR’s recent study that children were spreaders or even super-spreaders of coronavirus, the official said that it would be difficult to monitor each and every school on whether all safety measures were being followed.

On the linking of public health centres with schools if they are reopened mid-January after analysing test results of colleges students, he said, “Officials have said these centres could help conduct camps in nearby schools on a regular basis so that students’ health could be tracked periodically.”

Pointing out that health centres could also undertake vaccination drive once the shots arrive, he said, “These centres could also be used to distribute free masks to students in government and government-aided schools since they could not always get the standard ones.”

The official also said as was done earlier, fresh feedback will be received from parents and academicians before deciding to reopen the schools.

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