Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has announced that schools will reopen in the state from October 04 for Classes 5 to 12 adding that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has approved the decison.
Schools will reopen in a phased manner. In rural areas, classes will resume for the students of 5 to 12 and in urban areas, for 8 to 12. The Maharashtra government is making efforts to bring back children to schools. The local authorities have also been given powers, she added.
Until now schools were conducting physical classes only in few areas with less effect from the pandemic. “Though schools will reopen in the entire state, there is no compulsion for students to attend physical classes. Consent of parents will be necessary if they want to attend,”the minister added.
According to a survey conducted by the school education department, over 70% parents favoured reopening of schools, Gaikwad said.
Maharashtra had earlier formed a committee to set guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the reopening of schools.
The suggested SOPs include staggered school hours, social distancing inside classrooms, setting up school health clinics, among others.
“We had given permission to start schools from July 15 but on August 10 we had issued SOPs. We have now got guidance from the Pediatrics task force which we have included in our SOPs,” she said.
Gaikwad further said, “After we got the nod, we have taken a decision to open schools from October 04. In rural areas, Classes 5 to 12 and in Urban areas Classes 8 to 12 will start. Maharashtra schools to open.
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