Bhubaneswar: In its revised guidelines for reopening of schools, the Centre has left it to the state governments and union territories to decide whether the consent of parents should be needed for students to attend physical classes.
According to the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, a nod from parents for students to attend schools in physical mode is no longer mandatory.
The state governments have also been directed to ensure a smooth transition from home-based schooling to a formal one by coming up with bridge courses.
The schools have been asked to identify students on the basis of their learning levels. They have been directed to introduce remedial programmes. In order to prevent students from dropping out, the ministry has also requested the states to provide relaxation in the state Right to Education (RTE) norms for detention in classes V and VIII.
However, attendance must not be enforced and depend on the consent of parents, it added.
The guidelines also state that the Ministry of Education has started a programme called ‘Manodarpan’, involving a wide range of activities, to provide psychosocial support to the students. A national tele-helpline number 8448440632 has been launched to counsel students, parents and teachers to cope with the situation.