Classes LKG to VIII in Sikkim schools to reopen from Oct 18

GANGTOK,: All government, government-aided and private schools in Sikkim will fully open from October 18 from LKG level after the Dashain break.
Presently, only classes IX and above are functioning since October 1 after the Covid second wave showed marked decline in Sikkim.
Now, from October 18, classes LKG to VIII will also reopen in all educational institutions, informs an Education department circular on Tuesday. It has been observed that the positivity rate of Covid has come down considerably and re-opening of all classes can now be considered, added the department.
Initially, only 50% of the students should be called on alternate days with parental consent, which shall be further increased based on the monitoring of the situation, said the department.
All institutions are directed to strictly observe the Covid safety protocols.
Schools in Sikkim were closed indefinitely since mid-April following Covid second wave surge. With the pandemic slowing down by August end, the Education department had announced reopening of all educational institutions (class 9 and above) from September 6.
However, some cases of Covid infection among the students and the staff members were reported in both government and private educational institutions in the first week of the reopening of educational institutions.  The Education department then on September 11 notified closure of schools till October 31. Later the department again notified that senior classes in the schools shall resume from October 1.