Students in the 18 districts identified as green zones returned to school today. And this means school authorities now have to step up COVID-19 safety protocols for their students and staff. In Samtse as well, schools opened with caution as our reporter Sherub Dorji observes the safety protocols firsthand.
Students are back to school almost a month after the second nationwide lockdown halted classroom learning.
In Samtse Higher Secondary School, as soon as the students enter the campus, they are checked for temperature with infrared guns and are compulsorily made to wash their hands.
“To avoid mass gathering, we have done away with assembly. Whatever important announcements we have, it is made through a loudspeaker by the concerned teacher on duty,” said Tshetrim Dorji, the Principal of Samtse HSS.
He added that “(the school) installed water dispensers at various locations so that students have access to hot water. Likewise, we have markings in front of the class, in the school library and laboratories to maintain proper physical distancing. And to ensure enough water and washing facilities, we have put in extra washing facilities on the school campus as well as in the washrooms.”
Similarly, randomised testing of students will also start from today on the campus.
“The students wear a mask and wash their hands properly. Our teachers here ensure we keep physical distance when outside the classroom. But inside the classroom, we don’t have enough classrooms, so it is hard to maintain physical distancing,” said Chimi Wangmo, a student.
While the schools seem prepared for the reopening, outside, some taxi drivers are confused regarding their safety protocols. The District Taskforce mandated taxis and public transport buses to have a clear partition between the drivers and the passengers.
However, the Road Safety and Transport Authority office in Samtse asked only the taxis ferrying passengers to and from quarantines facilities to make the partition.
“We came from Tashichhoeling to Samtse with the partition. But upon arriving here, there was no one monitoring this. One of our friends messaged on our group chat questioning why the checking was done only in Tashichhoeling and not in Samtse. However, our taxi association discussed with the RSTA here and the rule was dismissed at mid-day, yesterday,” said Jamyang Sonam, a taxi driver.
The District COVID-19 Taskforce confirms that taxis travelling to and from other districts have to make the partition. Although the arrangement for travel within Samtse is not mandatory, the Taskforce advises taxi drivers to have the partition in place for safety.
Sherub Dorji, Samtse
