Mumbai Schools To Reopen At Full Capacity For All Classes From This Date, BMC Issues New Order

 As per the circular issued by the BMC, all schools of all streams and mediums shall start full time and in full capacity from March 2, irrespective of the board they are affiliated to.

Representational Image (Photo: Getty Images)

New Delhi: As the COVID-19 cases decline across the country, the municipal corporation of Mumbai has directed all the schools in the city to operate on pre-pandemic capacity and timing.

On late Friday evening, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took the decision to allow schools to resume classroom teaching from pre-primary to class 12 as per the pre-pandemic timetable from March 2, news agency PTI reported.

 As per the circular issued by the BMC, all schools of all streams and mediums shall start full time and in full capacity from March 2, irrespective of the board they are affiliated to.

However, there is a condition of all the teachers being fully vaccinated, and the temperature of the students should be checked before they enter the school.

The schools for children with special needs are supposed to take a consent letter from the parents for pre-pandemic functioning.

The decision for reopening of schools at full capacity has come after almost two years of schools being shut due to COVID-19.

The circular issued by the BMC also allowed schools to give lunch breaks and organise curricular and extra-curricular activities like that of pre-pandemic time. The schools can also allow bus services for the students now.

Ahead of the announcement by the BMC, Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District, Aditya Thackeray tweeted, “A meeting was held to ensure that the school resumes from March onwards. As before, schedule, attendance, extracurricular activities, the introduction of school buses were discussed. Considering the declining number of patients, it is our intention to undo the education by following the necessary rules.”

The schools also will be encouraged to organise vaccination camps for students from age 15 and up, on campus, with @mybmc @mybmcedu and doctors, with the consent of parents, to ensure vaccination rates and protection for students eligible for the covid vaccine (2/2) pic.twitter.com/ezkvqeSJ9u

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) February 25, 2022

He also added that schools would be encouraged to organise vaccination camps for children above 15 years of age to ensure their safety.

“Schools will also be encouraged to conduct immunization camps for students above 15 years of age in the school premises with the help of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Education Department, and doctors as per the consent of the parents by fixing fixed rates for the students who are eligible for COVID vaccination,” he wrote.

Schools in Maharashtra were reopened in January, however, they were instructed to operate on 50 percent capacity. This is the first time in two years that schools will open at full capacity at pre-pandemic functionality.