Schools and colleges in Maharashtra’s Pune district will resume offline classes gradually from February 1 onwards. While students of classes I to VIII are allowed to attend school for half their regular timings, classes IX and X students will have physical classrooms as per their regular schedules. Colleges will also function as per their regular schedule.
The announcement was made by the state’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar today (January 29). Pawar who is also Pune’s guardian minister said, “ Schools will have to take consent forms from parents as the final decision to send children to schools and colleges will depend on the parents.” Educational institutions are also required to follow all COVID protocols.
Schools and colleges in the state were closed in the first week of January until February 15 due to a spike in Corona virus cases and the highly infectious Omicron variant. Later after a review meeting of the COVID situation, the state government allowed schools and colleges to hold physical classes starting January 24.
However, schools and colleges in Pune district remained shut. Pune continued to report a high number of COVID cases. On Friday, Pune recorded 7,166 new COVID cases taking the district’s tally to 13,88,687 cases. The state government has asked local administrations across the state to take the final call regarding the reopening of schools and colleges based on the on-ground situation.
With children in the 15-18 age group being eligible for vaccination (January 3 onwards), only fully vaccinated students will be allowed to attend colleges, said Pawar. He also elaborated on the administration’s plans to arrange mobile vans to administer vaccines to eligible children in schools and colleges itself. At least 86 percent of eligible children have taken the vaccine in Pune’s rural areas though the number is much less in urban areas like Pimpri Chinchwad areas and Pune city, informed the minister.
With many outstation students unable to attend college as hostels were closed, colleges have been teaching through online classes. They are expected to continue teaching in hybrid mode until the college management is fully ready to hold offline classes.
Also read:
Schools set to reopen in Karnataka from January 31
West Bengal Govt: Reopen schools if 85% students are vaccinated
Posted in News, States
