Schools will welcome students back to physical classes in several states after a suspension of offline teaching for nearly 18 months due Covid-induced restrictions.
Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Assam and Puducherry- are reopening the schools today.
The common guidelines for schools across states include measures like mandatory thermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangements, 50% seating per classroom, and mandatory isolation room in school premises.
Here are the updates on school reopening in India:
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday reviewed the status of reopening of schools across the country with senior officials of the Department of School Education and Literacy.
As Per Education Ministry, Union Education Minister also took stock of the roadmap for vaccinating all teaching and non-teaching staff in schools by the month of September.
"Government Of India (GoI) is prioritising vaccination of teaching and non-teaching staff in schools across India to ensure a safe environment for reopening of schools," stated the Education Ministry.
Adhering to COVID-19 protocols in place, schools in Bhopal have reopened for classes 6 to 8 from Wednesday. Students were seen happy and enthusiastic for attending physical classes from today. Schools are also ensuring proper sanitisation and temperature checks of students and staff.
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana were among states that reopened schools today even as Covid vaccination for children aged 12 and above is expected to begin in October.
As the number of Covid-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh is now under control, the state government on Wednesday allowed the reopening of primary school from today with all the guidelines in place.
In view of the improved COVID-19 situation in the district, the Uttar Pradesh administration has allowed physical classes in schools for students for classes 1 to 5.
Delhi reopens schools from today for classes 9-12 after nearly 1.5 years amid strict safety protocol due to the pandemic. The decision could not be delayed any further, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said today.
Some states where schools have opened amid concerns about a third wave of the Covid pandemic, are seeing a rise in infections among children.
Offline teaching for classes 9 to 12 in Tamil Nadu resumed on Wednesday, with strict Covid-19 protocol in place, while physical classes in colleges also commenced in the state.
On March 20, in the backdrop of surging coronavirus cases in the state, the government had ordered closure of schools for classes 9, 10 and 11 from March 22 until further orders. However, it was then announced that they would continue to function for the 12th standard students as they had to take up the board examination.
The new guidelines ---- put in place to curb the potential spread of Covid ---- include mandatory thermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangements, 50% seating per classroom, and mandatory isolation room in school premises.
After calling students of Classes 9 to 12 for physical classes, the Uttar Pradesh schools reopen today for Classes 1 to 5.
Schools across Tamil Nadu have opened for Classes IX to XII amid a new set of guidelines and SOPs, including only 50 per cent strength at any point in time. The state's daily tally has drastically dipped to around 1,500.
Arunachal Pradesh will open schools and colleges in a graded manner from today. Arunachal Pradesh is reopening schools for Classes 9 to 12.
Delhi schools for Classes 9 to 12, colleges, universities and coaching institutes will reopen from September 1. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safety of students and staff members. Children will be able to take classes at a time up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the seating capacity of the classroom, as per the SOPs issued by DDMA.
Schools in the national capital reopened with strict anti-Covid measures in place after a gap of 17 months. The new guidelines ---- put in place to curb the potential spread of Covid ---- include mandatory thermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangements, 50% seating per classroom, and mandatory isolation room in school premises.
The new norms also include an isolation room for students.
Dr CS Verma, principal, Kautilya Government School told NDTV, "we are very happy to welcome back our students. We will ensure strict social distancing; students will not be allowed to share food or notebooks. we have also created an isolation room in our school in case a child feels unwell."
