Due to being closed since March 2020, many states are planning to reopen classes for academic activities these days as the cases of coronavirus are decreasing. Notably, these state governments are planning to reopen schools in a phased manner. However, the threat of a possible third COVID wave and non-availability of vaccines is forcing these states to reconsider their decisions.
After reopening of offline schools for class 12 and colleges, Gujarat government is now planning to start offline education for class 9 to 11. According to the latest update, the Gujarat government on Thursday allowed the reopening of schools for students of classes 9 to 11. From 11 Jul 26, with 50% capacity. The state government issued new guidelines stating that students who are willing to attend physical classes will have to submit their parent’s consent form.
On the other hand, schools have already opened in CORONA free villages of Maharashtra before 15th July. The Maharashtra government had earlier issued an order to reopen the offline academic year 2024-25 from July 15 in a Covid-free village. More than 4 lakh students of class 9th to 12th attended offline classes in the first week in rural Maharashtra.
With no offline classes for the second consecutive academic year, the Karnataka government is planning to reopen classes in a phased manner from August, sources in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) told The Indian Express. According to the report, an expert panel headed by the DPI commissioner will soon submit the report to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. The panel has recommended that offline classes should resume from the first week of August. Meanwhile, Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said that teachers of all schools, including government, aided and unaided private, will be vaccinated to facilitate the resumption of offline classes.
In a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the state government said that schools will reopen from August 2 for class 10th, 11th and 12th strictly following the COVID-19 norms. However, students of classes 5th and 8th will be allowed to attend schools for doubt clearing from August 2. The state government also said that coaching, tuition and training institutes will be allowed to function from July 26 following the COVID-19 guidelines.
Telangana is also planning to reopen schools as the COVID cases in the state have come down. Earlier, the state had ordered the reopening of schools, junior colleges, degree colleges, technical colleges and all other educational institutions from July 1. According to the latest update, from August 1, all educational institutions will be allowed to open physical classes. Following strict COVID-19 protocols in schools.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Delhi government will first review the experience of other states where schools are reopening and later take a decision on schools in the national capital. The chief minister, however, reiterated the Delhi government’s stand that the ideal situation for reopening of schools would be after vaccination is completed.
“The ideal situation would be to open schools after vaccination. We will see for a few days the experience of other states where schools are opening and then decide. The parents are still concerned about the safety of their child,” he told reporters during an event in Timarpur. The chief minister said last week that there are no plans to reopen schools until the vaccination process is over, citing concerns over a possible third wave of COVID-19.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have announced the reopening of schools in the first week of August.
Schools in the national capital were ordered to close in March last year ahead of the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. While several states started partially reopening schools in October last year, the Delhi government in January this year allowed physical classes only for grades 9-12, which have been hit by a spurt in COVID-19 cases. After the increase was suspended again.
Though the Delhi government allowed auditoriums and assembly halls in schools to be used for training and meeting purposes, physical teaching and learning remains suspended. When asked about the shortage of vaccine, the Chief Minister said, – We are still facing a shortage of vaccine. The central government should figure out how to rapidly increase the availability of the vaccine.
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