School Reopening Dates: Amid Rising Coronavirus Cases, What Have States Decided About School?

In many states, schools have remained closed since the lockdown was announced in March. Now with rising coronavirus cases in the country, what are the plans for resuming classes?

New Delhi: Ever since the nationwide lockdown announced in March this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, schools across the country have remained shut. After almost eight months, some of the states including Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and a few others went ahead to reopen schools in a graded manner in line with the Centre’s guidelines that allowed states a flexible approach in reopening schools for Classes 9 to 12.

But with a resurgence of coronavirus cases in many states teh decision to reopen schools have been revisited. Here's what states have decided so far



Delhi: With the rapid increase in the number of coronvirus cases in the Union Territory the Arvind Kejriwal government has decided to keep schools closed. Recently, the Deeputy CM Sisodia said that schools in the national capital which are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic are unlikely to reopen until a vaccine is available. "Until we get some vaccine, schools (in Delhi) are not likely to open," said Sisodia, who is also Delhi's Education Minister. Colleges in Delhi also remain shut.

West Bengal: The education minister has indicated on there was no "immediate possibility" of opening state-run or private schools. However, The department of school education will ensure that "schools take necessary measures for maintaining Covid-19 safety norms before they reopen. The state has also reduced the curriculum for the Madhyamik (Class X) and Uchha Madhyamik (Class XII) curriculum for the 2020-21 academic year.

Tamil Nadu: While the state government has decided to reopen both undergraduate and post-graduate medical and allied programmes from December 7, there are no dates for school reopening yet. The earlier decision to resume school classes from November 16 was put on hold.

Rajasthan: The Ashok Gehlot government has extended the lockdown in containment zones till December 31, 2020. School and colleges in the state will remain shut.

Odisha: The state government has decided to keep schools and colleges shut till December 31. A statement released by the Odisha government reads, "All academic/technical/skill development institutions (except medical colleges) as well as all Anganwadi centres to remain closed till December 31.

Andhra Pradesh: Schools remain open in the state. In a week after Andhra Pradesh reopened schools for Classes 9 to 12 on 2 November, at least 575 students and 829 teachers tested positive for Covid-19 in the state.

Haryana: Schools in Haryana have been shut for 10 days till 30 November, after around 150 students across several government schools tested positive for coronavirus, barely two weeks after they were reopened for Classes 9 to 12.

Himachal Pradesh: The state government decided that all state-run educational institutions will remain closed till December 31. The state had earlier decided to resume classes from November 25.

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