Face masks to be distributed in Bhagalpur schools

BHAGALPUR: The district education department is set to provide face masks to nearly five lakh schoolchildren of state-government run schools in the district.
On Monday, 40,000 schoolchildren were provided face masks in schools under the Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) areas besides Nathnagar, Kahalgaon and Pirpainty blocks out of 16 blocks in the district.
The face masks are being manufactured by JEEViKA. District education officer (DEO) Sanjay Kumar said that each child will get two face masks.
“Two face masks are being provided to each student enrolled in government schools from Class I to VIII. The total enrolment is more than 4,75,000 lakh in the district. Therefore nearly 10,00,000 face masks have to be distributed as soon as possible,” the DEO said.
He added: “Acknowledging that distribution of nearly 10,00,000 face masks to approximately 5,00,000 schoolchildren is a challenge, we have geared up our machinery both for procurement of face masks and distribution among the schoolchildren in the district.”
Urging the guardians to motivate their wards to wear face masks, carry tiffin and water bottles while attending the classes, the DEO said: “We have also directed the headmasters (HMs), class teachers and other school staff to make sure that children attending classes and participating in other activities in the schools should wear face masks.”
Schools from Classes I to V reopened across the state from Monday after almost a year.