Budgam: The teachers and employees of all private educational institutions which are operating across the district Budgam will be tested for COVID-19 and those found negative will have to join work as the authorities are looking to reopen the schools today.
Chief Educational Officer Budgam, Syed Mohammad Amin said that on the directions of the district administration Budgam, it is mandatory for all the government as well as private schools teachers to do the Covid19 test.
“As I have already informed all the government and private schools to do the test for all employees,” He said.
Aadil Bashir, Nodal officer Covid-19 Mitigation Cell Budgam told the Kashmir Reader that for the safety of the children in the schools, we are going to do a sampling of the government teachers from March 01 in the phase-wise. Ten teams from the health department will be deployed in the different blocks of the district that will conduct the sampling of the 11,782 government teachers up to 8th March.
“All the private schools have already been informed to get their staff tested for Covid-19. The private schools should approach their concerned Block Medical officers and obtain Covid-19 certificate before operating normal classwork in the schools,” He said.
Aadil said that the testing or sampling is mandatory for all the staff members of the private as well as the government institutions. If any staff member or teacher who refuses to cooperate shall be dealt with strictly under provisions of the disaster management act 2005.
“The certificate of the Covid-19 is valid only up to 15 days. After the 15 days of the time period, the teachers will be best again for Covid-19. So, the students will not get affected in the schools,” He said
He further said that all the schools should follow the SOPs, guidelines, and teachers and students should wear face masks in the schools for the prevention measures of spreading the Covid-19.

ARIF RASHID