Dipta Joshi

Among rising COVID-19 cases across Maharashtra, the state’s education minister, Varsha Gaikwad has advised the state’s local administrative authorities to assess and announce school closures from 1 March if needed. The minister made the announcement through social media today.

As a precautionary measure safeguarding students against Coronavirus infections, the final decision regarding re-opening of schools has remained with local municipal corporations despite the state education department’s permission to re-open schools November 23, 2020 onwards.

Maharashtra has recorded a surge in new COVID-19 cases since February with 8,807 cases being reported on Wednesday, 24 February alone. The total number of cases in the state is now 21,21,119 (25 February). Within the state, several restrictions have been placed on districts like Nagpur, Amravati, Nashik, Akola and Yavatmal, Washim, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Pune and Mumbai all of which have witnessed a spike of 20 percent and more in new cases.   

In Washim district, 225 students and four teachers from a single residential school in Washim district, tested COVID-19 positive leading to local authorities declaring the school premises a containment zone. The school hostel which accommodates 327 students had students joining the hostel on 14 February.

Speaking to EducationWorld on the issue an official associated with the school informed, “We have students from the neighbouring areas of Amravati, Hingoli, Nanded, Buldhana and Akola. Many of these districts have witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases. While the students were asymptomatic, we are now following all mandated procedures to provide the best care to our students.” 

Also read: Maharashtra: Parents demand pro-parent amendments to fee regulations