New Delhi: More than half the states and union territories, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, are still undecided about reopening schools, with Covid-19 caseload continuing to increase in the country.
But Delhi, Haryana and Karnataka, among others, have said they are ready to reopen schools between August and September.
The states and UTs gave their responses with regard to reopening of schools during a meeting with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) last week.
Officials in the MHRD, however, said these responses are part of an internal discussion to check the preparedness and “no final decision has been taken so far”.
Educational institutions across the country have been shut since March in the wake of the pandemic and now the government has begun the process of consulting with states and other stakeholders on how and when schools can be reopened.
Also read: Over 70% parents want schools to reopen only after 21 days of zero Covid cases: Survey
Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh want to open in August
On 15 July, a meeting via video conference was held with representatives of all states and UTs. During the meeting, more than half the states and UTs said they have not taken any decision so far on when to reopen schools, while some others left it to the central government, according to a document compiling the responses.
The document, a copy of which is with ThePrint, stated that Assam and Puducherry are ready to reopen schools after 31 July.
Delhi preferred to do the same in August, and so did Haryana and Chandigarh. Both Haryana and Chandigarh said they will be ready to reopen schools after 15 August.
Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala gave a September schedule.
More than half the states and UTs, including Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Goa and Chhattisgarh, said they haven’t taken any decision so far. Jammu and Kashmir, meanwhile, left it to the central government to decide, the document stated.
‘No decision has been arrived at’
A senior ministry official told ThePrint: “The HRD ministry is collecting information continuously from various quarters. Since no decision has been arrived at, no interpretation can be taken out of the state responses.”
As reported by ThePrint, the HRD ministry has been seeking parents’ opinions on when to reopen schools this year.
The ministry had last Friday written to all states, asking them to get parents’ feedback on when they want schools to reopen. The ministry in its letter gave three options — August, September and October.
The consultations are a part of the process of formulation of school reopening guidelines that the ministry is working on. They are also consulting the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the guidelines.
Also read: Can schools & students be trusted with Covid norms or should classes begin as curve flattens?
School will be reopen in September only class 10th to 12th
Pls reopen school teacher Jo education dete aur desh Ka Acha future dete hai aaj berojkar hokar gum rahe hai.aur covid 19 ki bajah se student street to veg aur fruit as and collect the garwage.ese banega desh Ka future
Please open the school and college .it is very difficult to take online classes continuously 4 hours . You can open educational institutions through phases manner likewise as we suggested to reopening of school September 1 and this process will end in November .we are ready to this decision taken by state government . We will follow all the precaution that would be prevailing by our respective government . please I request to government reopen school . Because cases we will not stop .It will be increase day by day . You are just harm the future of the innocent Although they cannot go outside for taking tution classes .so how will they understand their syllabus and how will they study . Have you think about that .
So please open the all educational institutions slightly ….
To thank you ?????
Please open the school and college .it is very difficult to take online classes continuously 4 hours . You can open educational institutions through phases manner likewise as we suggested to reopening of school September 1 and this process will end in November .we are ready to this decision taken by status . We will follow all the precaution that would be prevailing by our respective government . please I request to government reopen school . Because cases we will not stop .It will be increase day by day . You are just harm the future of the innocent Although they cannot go outside for taking tution classes .Do how will they understand their syllabus and how will they study . Have you think about that .
So please open the all educational institutions slightly ….
To thank you ?????
Please reopen the schools for 10,12 because these classes are board classes and that is final exams will taken bye government in any situation atleast reopen schools in morning and evening sessions for our future nd one problem is that there is no tuition classes available in anywhwe
I don’t agree because if any person affected by this virus it is dangerous so please don’t reopen the school.It is very Difficult to handle the situation. So take a right descion in which all can BE HAPPY AND SAFE
School are not open in this year because now onwards in delhi the COVID case is low but after school start the COVID case will be increase
Please don’t do that. I think it’s not a good idea. Educational institutions should remain closed until the situation normalise. Especially in Kerala state. Please take that into consideration. Don’t risk the lives of our children. Please.
Please don’t do that. I think it’s not a good idea. Educational institutions should remain closed until the situation normalise. Especially in Kerala state. Please take that into consideration. Don’t risk the lives of our children. Please.