School reopening: Kerala government will conduct awareness classes to destress parents, kids

At a time when the schools are all set to be reopened next month after remaining shut for more than a year, the Kerala General Education Department is busy preparing a centralised module to ease the stress and anxiety of children as well as parents in this regard. Minister for General Education V Sivankutty told the state Assembly that awareness classes would be conducted at the class level for parents and children based on the module once it is ready.

"As part of the initiative, teachers will be given training initially based on the module and such trained teachers in turn will impart awareness lessons to parents to relieve their tension and anxiety," he said during question hour. Students would also be given similar awareness classes in the initial days of the school reopening, he said, adding that counselling sessions were already given to the needy children with the support of the social justice department.

Detailing the preparations of the government ahead of the school reopening, the minister said steps are being taken to clean and disinfect all places where children congregate and a bio-bubble system would be implemented strictly to ensure their safety. Arrangements would be made in such a way that only two children are sitting on a bench, he said, adding that all normal days, including the non-holiday Saturdays, would be working days.

School authorities have been directed to prepare mid-day meals for children and distribute them adhering to COVID protocol besides ensuring them the service of a doctor. Along with soap and sanitiser, thermal scanners to examine the body temperature of children, teachers and non-teaching staff would also be arranged in each school, Sivankutty added. In view of the COVID spread, the state government has been imparting online education to the children in the government and aided schools for the last two academic years including the ongoing one.