School reopening status across India (August 2021)

Shreyosi Chakraborty

As we begin the month of August, India’s students step into their 17th month of undergoing online classes. The pandemic has shrivelled and shrunken everyone and the constantly mutating deadly virus has prevented school managements and governments to think of re-opening schools. However, with the vaccination processes, most governments have relaxed the lockdown rules and are deciding/decided to reopen the schools.

Let us take a brief look at which states/union territories have reopened schools or are yet to reopen.

Andhra Pradesh: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to reopen the schools from August 16. The decision has been taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. 

Assam: No date yet. The Assam state government has decided not to re-open schools and educational institutions unless the Covid positivity rate dips below two percent across every district. Assam State Disaster Management Authority has directed all educational institutions to continue with the online method of teaching.

Bihar: Physical classes for classes 1 to 10 will begin from the second week of August, 2021. 

Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh government has already opened their schools for Classes 10 and 12 from August 2, 2021. However, according to reports, attendance in these classes was very low. For Classes 1 to 5 and Class 8 in rural areas, the concerned panchayats will take a final call over the resumption of classes and other conditions applied.

Goa: According to the latest reports, physical classes are likely to begin before August 15. chief minister Pramod Sawant said the state education department has been asked to conduct a study and ascertain whether students can be physically called to schools.

Gujarat: Schools in Gujarat re-opened for senior classes from July 26, following Covid-19 protocols. The government has allowed the physical re-opening of schools for the students of classes 9 to 11 from July 26 with a 50 per cent seating capacity.

Haryana: On July 16, schools in the state were reopened for classes nine to 12, following strict Covid-19 protocols. The students were also required to submit written permission from parents for attending the classes physically. Attendance is not mandatory for offline classes and online mode would be continued too.

Himachal Pradesh: Schools have re-opened from August 2 for classes 10 and 12, while students of classes between five and eight would be allowed to visit schools for clearing their doubts about the subjects. The decision was taken following a state cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Jharkhand: Schools in Jharkhand have re-opened from August 2, with several Covid-19 safety guidelines in place. The schools have only reopened for Classes 9 to 12 for now.

Karnataka: The Karnataka government has decided to reopen schools for students from class 9 to 12 (II PUC) from August 23.

Kerala: The state government has decided not to reopen schools now. Educational institutions will remain shut in all areas and only online teaching-learning will be permitted, according to an order by the Disaster Management Department of the state.

Madhya Pradesh: Schools in Madhya Pradesh have reopened for classes 11 and 12 on July 26. Classes 9 and 10 re-opened from August 5. The offline classes will be held twice a week. Most schools did not resume classes.

Maharashtra: Schools have re-opened from July 15 in covid-19 free villages.

Meghalaya: Meghalaya is looking to reopen educational institutions after mid-August, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said.

New Delhi: A final date has not been decided in this regard. The Delhi government has asked parents and teachers for suggestions on the reopening of schools in the national capital. Manish Sisodia has asked all parents, teachers, and students to mail their thoughts on the email ID – delhischools21@gmail.com with their names. 

Odisha: The state government has re-opened schools for classes 10 and 12 from July 26. 

Punjab: The state government has allowed re-opening of schools for all classes from August 2.

Puducherry: No date as of yet

Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu government is planning to re-open schools for class 9-12 students from September 1 with 50 per cent capacity 

Rajasthan: Schools in Rajasthan have reopened from August 2.

Uttarakhand: Schools for classes 9 to 12 have been re-opened in Uttarakhand from August 2, 2021, onwards. However, a petitioner has challenged the state government’s decision to open schools in Uttarakhand High Court saying that no Covid-19 measures were taken.

Uttar Pradesh: The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to re-open schools in Uttar Pradesh with 50 percent attendance. Schools in UP will also open with the Covid-19 protocol from August 16, 2021, onwards.