Maharashtra Plans To Resume Schools For Classes 8-12 From July 15; All Teachers, Other Staff To Be Vaccinated

Villages which have not had Covid-19 cases for more than a month and where gram panchayat resolves to adopt Covid appropriate behaviour in consensus with parents will be permitted to reopen Schools.

Maharashtra Schools To Reopen From July 15

Mumbai: Witnessing a significant decline in number of Daily Covid-19 cases, the Maharashtra government is planning to resume offline classes in schools situated in areas where where no COVID-19 case has been reported in the last one month. Minister of School Education Department Varsha Gaikwad has announced that schools in such areas have been allowed to reopen for classes 8 - 12 from 15 July onwards. 

Taking to her official Twitter handle, Varsha Gaikwad shared a video message saying that it has become a need of the hour to have a co-educational approach to reach out to the children of the last strata of the state." 

Along with the video message, Gaikwad in the caption wrote, "A blended approach to education is the need of the hour in these difficult times. While we continue to promote remote learning & online education, we are also working towards safe resumption of schools in corona free villages." 

The minister further briefed the measures and protocols taken by the state government and authorities in view of resuming offline classes in schools for students of classes 8-12. 

As described by Gaikwad, villages which have not had Covid-19 cases for more than a month and where the gram panchayat resolves to adopt Covid appropriate behaviour in consensus with parents/guardians will be permitted to reopen Std. 8-12th classrooms from July 15 onwards. 

Strict protocols/SOPs have been put in place and will have to be adhered to by all stakeholders. Concerned teachers/school staff should be vaccinated on priority. 

A village-level committee headed by the Sarpanch will be responsible for the implementation of all protocols/SOPs. The Chief Executive Officer of the local Zilla Parishad will supervise the operations and take regular reviews.