Chandigarh District Education officer issues guidelines for reopening of schools

The directions stated that schools will have to follow staggered timings like for classes 10 to 12, according to which the first session would be held from 9 am to 11.30 am and for classes 9 to 11, session would be held from 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm.

Chandigarh schools, Chandigarh, COVID-19

The DEO said that written consent of parents will be taken only once for the children to attend the school. Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh

As UT gears up to begin regular classes for class 9 to 11, the District Education officer issued the guidelines in this regard to the government school principals and heads. It said that private schools may too adopt these instructions or amend them, except the points specified by the Centre, as per their requirement in consultation with their management for smooth functioning of the school.

The DEO said that written consent of parents will be taken only once for the children to attend the school. “Written consent of parents to send their wards to schools is to be taken only once by the schools that is before or on the day of reopening of schools and will be valid unless it is withdrawn by parents,” he said.

The directions stated that schools will have to follow staggered timings like for classes 10 to 12, according to which the first session would be held from 9 am to 11.30 am and for classes 9 to 11, session would be held from 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm.

The DEO specified in the order that teachers will continue with online classes . However, teachers will teach those students in school who prefer to attend the school following the SOPs .

The guidelines also specified particular protocols for the teaching staff. “As 100 per cent teaching and non-teaching staff will attend school daily from November 2 onward, the principal or head of the school will need to prepare the schedule and time table in a systematic manner so that all the teachers take their classes offline and online from the school premises. In the time available after online and offline classes, teachers may prepare supporting need-based worksheets or assignments to supplement their teaching,” a statement by the DEO said.

However, these directions have not gone down well with the UT Cadre Educational Employees Union. “In one of the schools in Punjab, a government school teacher tested positive and the school had to be sealed. Why cannot they understand that it is risky at this point of time to call the students,” said Swarn Singh Kamboj, president of the union. “Moreover, you see how difficult it will be for the teachers to take online and offline classes both. There has to be some proper mechanism for this.”

In the orders issued Wednesday, principal and heads of schools have been asked to ensure that different task teams are formed for smooth school functioning. It also stated that as per orders, these conditions as specified should be strictly followed. The online mode of teaching will however be encouraged among the students in view of the pandemic.

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The orders by government have specified that attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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