Chennai: The schools in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are set to reopen for physical classes after 17 months as the number of COVID-19 cases is under control in the state and the union territory on Monday. The Kerala government has also decided to reopen schools for Class 1-7, Class 10, and Class 12 students on November 1, which is the founding day of the state. The schools are set to reopen after they were closed in March 2020 as part of the measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.


In Tamil Nadu, the schools in most districts are set to reopen on Monday. The schools in six districts including Villupuram, Cuddalore, Vellore, Tirunelveli, Kallakurichi, and Tiruvarur will not reopen on Monday since the respective district administrations have declared a holiday due to the rains that are impounding the districts. All the more, the rain is likely to turn into a damper in several other districts as well. 


The schools have also been instructed to divide the students into two groups and conduct physical classes on an alternative basis.


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Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin requested MPs, MLAs, and headmasters to welcome the students with sweets. He also urged teachers to welcome the students from the school gates to ease the students from anxiety over the COVID-19 spread. 


The Chief Minister also requested the teachers to engage students in painting, singing, and playing in the first two weeks of the schools since they are coming after a crisis situation. 


Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on October 25 said that parents are free to send their children to school before or after Diwali and they will not compel the parents to send all their children from the first day of the school itself.


The Puducherry government, which has also decided to reopen the school on Monday, also said that it's not compulsory for students to attend school and the government will ensure that students attend classes with the permission of their parents. The Puducherry Education Minister A Namassivayam said that schools will function from 9 am to 1 pm in urban areas and from 9.30 am to 1 pm in rural areas.