Taking a long stride forward in unlocking the state, the MVA government has decided that the schools for classes five to eight in rural areas will reopen from August 17. Also, schools for classes 8 to 12 in urban areas will reopen with all Covid-19 protocols in place. Currently, schools for classes 8 to 12 are allowed in rural areas where the number of Covid patients are less.
School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said, “We are taking a decision to reopen schools in the state from August 17. There are plans to start schools for classes 5 to 8 in rural areas where the number of positive cases has come down. Besides, the government will take a decision to start schools for classes 8 to 12 in urban and semi-urban areas (municipal corporation, nagar palika and nagar panchayat). For this, two committees to work out modalities for rural and urban areas will be formed.”
’Offline classes will commence in rural areas for students for class 5 to 8, while those in cities will be for students in classes 8 to 12 while following Covid-19 protocols,” she said.
Gaikwad’s announcement came days after the state government relaxed Covid-related restrictions in 22 districts while the Level 3 curbs have been put in place in 11 districts with higher number of cases and low positivity rate.
The minister’s announcement comes close on the heels of decisions by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu government to reopen schools.
A department officer said about 5,947 schools in rural areas have started offline classes for classes 8 to 12 on July 12,. These schools were largely from the areas where no Covid 19 cases were detected recently. However, after the reopening of schools, nearly 613 students found Covid positive in Solapur district.
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