Maharashtra: Schools For Classes 1-12 To Reopen From January 24 With Covid Protocols

Pre-primary schools will also reopen from January 24 informed Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad

Representational Image | File Image

New Delhi: Schools in Maharashtra will reopen for classes 1 to 12 from January 24 while observing all the Covid protocols. Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad gave out the information saying that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has given his nod for the proposal. Pre-primary schools will also reopen from January 24, Gaikwad added. 

 

From 24 (January) we will be reopening schools for classes 1-12th with COVID protocols; CM has agreed to our proposal: Varsha Gaikwad, Maharashtra School Education Minister pic.twitter.com/Tji4l8Y0AF

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2022

 

On Wednesday, Gaikwad said that a proposal was sent to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackarey regarding reopening of schools in the state from next week observing the local Covid-19 situation. The proposal included reopening of pre primary schools also, she added. 

Schools were closed earlier this month in the state by an order of the Maharashtra government till February 15 after there was a surge in the cases of Covid-19 amid emergence of the Omicron variant.

ASLO READ: SC Upholds OBC Reservation In NEET-AIQ, Says Reservation Not At Odds With Merit

"After COVID cases rose, the government decided not to continue with the school (offline) sessions. But after discussion with the experts, it has been decided to start the sessions where the number of cases is low based on the local COVID-19 situation," Gaikwad said.

"A proposal has been sent to the chief minister. It states that reopening of schools should be considered from Monday and all the power to do so should be given to the local authorities (municipal commissioners, district collectors, chief executive officers, education officers," she added. 

A section of parents and school associations had also filed a petition seeking to reopen schools including a Mumbai-based parent association that wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackarey demanding reopening of schools.