SRINAGAR — Students in Kashmir welcomed the reopening of coaching centres as the third wave of COVID-19 showed signs of ebbing.
The ecstatic students after attending their coaching classes said that they are happy to be among their friends in the classrooms and want to continue their studies in offline mode.
“Online classes were also essential given the increasing cases of COVID-19. However, we welcome the reopening of the offline mode of coaching classes,” Shahbaz, a teacher from southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district, said.
A student named Razia, while welcoming the reopening of offline coaching classes, said that they prefer the offline mode of attending classes over online mode. “We get to interact with the teacher in the classroom and get to meet our classmates and friends as well,” the student added.
CCAK welcomes the opening of coaching centres
Coaching Centres Association of Kashmir (CCAK) also on Monday welcomed the government decision to allow resumption of classes at the coaching centres. The Association termed it as the right decision at a right time for the students who are preparing for the forthcoming competitive examinations.
The Association termed it as the biggest relief for the student community. “Our competitive examinations are just around the corner. Many of our students were living in rented accommodations in Srinagar. After the closure of coaching centres, most of the students were mentally disturbed and unable to focus on their studies. The opening of coaching centres is a huge relief for them and a beautiful gift from the government, for which they deserve applause,” said G N Var chairman CCAK.
“We are thankful to LG Administration, Chief Secretary, Addl Chief Secretary Health for taking the call on this vital issue. With this decision, they have helped secure the future of our next generation,” he said.
The Association said that the resumption of classes has been made possible due to the combined efforts of government officials, coaching centres, parents and other stakeholders. “When the coaching centres were closed due to increasing Covid cases, we faced a huge challenge of vaccinating our entire student community and staff members. But we completed the 100% vaccination process in an expedited manner to make ground for the resumption of classes. It was due to the joint efforts of various government departments including Directorate of School Education, Higher Education, Health Services and coaching centres that the entire vaccination process was completed within the shortest possible time,” said G N Var Chairman CCAK.
The Association thanked the vaccination teams who worked extremely hard and often in difficult situations to administer the vaccines to students and the staff member.
Meanwhile, the Association directed the coaching centres to strictly follow the Covid SOPs in letter and spirit.
Coaching centres for Civil Services/Engineering/NEET allowed to reopen
As the third wave of the COVID-19 ebbed, J&K Government on Sunday lifted weekend restrictions and also allowed coaching centres to resume offline teaching with a rider.
“Coaching Centres for Civil Services/Engineering/NEET etc. are permitted to adopt offline medium of teaching at 50% of their capacity subject to the condition that both faculty members, as well as students, are fully vaccinated and the Head of the centre ensures due precautions such as CAB and adherence to SOP,” the order reads further, adding, “Educational institutions shall be permitted to direct attendance of vaccinated staff for administrative purposes only.”
As regards the education institutions, the SEC ordered that all Colleges, Schools, Polytechnics, ITIs, etc shall continue to adopt an “online” medium of teaching. “There shall be no in-person teaching,” the order read.
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