MUSCAT: Indian Schools in Oman will open only in phases once the COVID-19 readiness plans are approved by the authorities, a top official of the Board of Directors (BOD) has informed. 

Speaking exclusively to The Arabian Stories (TAS), Dr. Sivakumar Manickam, Chairman of Indian Schools said the BOD is awaiting the readiness plans from the schools. “We have asked all the Indian schools in the country to submit a readiness plan and we are waiting to hear from them,” Manickam said. 

With Omani schools planning to open on September 12, TAS has been receiving enquiries from parents, regarding the reopening of Indian schools in the country. “We will not look at opening schools at one stretch but it will be in phases,” Manickam informed. 

The BOD received circulars from the Ministry  of Education on how to organise classrooms, and this has been circulated to all the schools. 

There are currently 21 Indian community schools across Oman. According to Manickam, vaccination will be the key to reopening schools. “Currently students aged 12 and above are being vaccinated and most of the schools in interior has completed this process. We are evaluating the vaccination process closely with all the schools. In fact there are many students and parents returning back to the country after Oman reopened the airports. And most of them have been vaccinated. We will evaluate this and then plan the reopening,” he said. 

“Class 12 students have completed the vaccination,” he informed. 

Regarding classes, Manickam said online education are currently in place. “Online classes are going on in full-swing. We always look at having physical classes but its all about preparations and we are working on that,” he added.