Ahead of reopening, schools told to ensure Covid protocols

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 25 (EMN): Ahead of re-opening of schools in Nagaland, educators were told to maintain health and safety measures and ensure appropriate Covid protocol as physical attendance of 50% students from classes 6 to 10 will begin from October 1.

Project Director of Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA), Dr. Hovithal Sothu, said this at the annual general body meeting of All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA), Kohima unit, held at Baptist High School in Kohima on Saturday.

Speaking on the theme ‘the ways ahead for educators in the post pandemic period’, Sothu said that maintaining health and safety measures would be crucial with physical classes starting soon.

‘Schools should ensure hygiene protocols and observe Covid appropriate behaviours’, he added and urged the teachers to get themselves adapted into the system of the new normal.

He called upon the teachers to re-engineer themselves now that the physical classes are opening shortly.

On some teachers not willing to get vaccinated, he said that if they want their students and schools to be safe, they should get the vaccine as it would be another step to move forward.

Speaking further on the theme, he was of the view that teachers must learn to adjust themselves with students between the “haves” and “have nots”. In this regard, he suggested making special arrangements for students from economically weaker backgrounds.

He also laid emphasis on creativity, training and support to teachers and staff. He urged teachers to be creative by using video lessons in their teachings.

Giving the different status of schools and institutions, he urged the well-established schools in the state to handhold less privileged schools.

He also pointed out the need to have more facilities for students with special needs and encouraged educators to think of the best way to help them.

‘The pandemic has brought all schools to a standstill and the normal classes have been stopped for almost two years. In such a situation, teachers while thinking about imparting quality education, the school board members and management were thinking how to pay the salary of the teachers’, Sothu observed.

On the other hand, the government servants kept getting full salaries even without attending the offices. This, he said, was a sad reality and teachers were being made to suffer untold miseries.

He asserted that teachers were doing extraordinary things during this pandemic.

Results were also given out to students who won the online singing competition (solo and duet) that was conducted earlier on the theme ‘this too shall pass’.

In the solo category, Chumrenthung Humtsoe, a class 4 student of St Mary’s Cathedral Higher Secondary School won the first position. The second and third position went to Nyiumei Chungpang of Ministers’ Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School and Longkyang Thonger of Chandmari HSS respectively.

Meanwhile, in the duet competition, twin sisters — Chinia and Chovoa Kayina — of Mezhur HSS won first place. Vimenu Sachü and Ela Lungeli of Ministers’ Hill Baptist HSS stood second while third position went to Veritolü Phuswuo and Rüvelu Lohe of Jo Foundation Inclusive School. All the other participants were also given certificates.