No online classes will be conducted in Tamil Nadu schools from September 21 to 25, said state education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan. This step has been taken by the state government to reduce stress among school students. Besides, the telecast of video lessons on television channels would also not be telecasted as well.

The state education minister said that at this time usually the state declares quarterly and half-yearly examination holidays for students, but this year due to the pandemic, online classes were being conducted. The Minister told The Hindu, “A vacation for students will help them to refresh,” adding that consent had been obtained from Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to declare the holidays.

To keep a check whether public and private schools are conducting online classes in these five days or not, block-level officers have been given the charge, revealed the minister. Regarding reopening of schools, the Minister said that consultation on reopening of schools would only be taken after the pandemic situation in the state changes for better.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the guidelines for the reopening of schools for students of classes 9 to 12 from September 21, 2020. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the MHA listed several health and safety measures in order to ensure students can attend classes safely and don’t lose out on their academics.

Students from classes 9 to 12 will have the option of attending the classes remotely/virtually or physically on a voluntary basis for guidance from their teachers subject to written permission of parent/guardian. The guidelines further state that instead of the biometric mode of attendance, alternate arrangements for contactless attendance shall be made by the school administration.

Source: Times Now

Read: MHA issues guidelines for reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 from Sept 21, 2020

Also read: Tamil Nadu cancels all semester exams except for final year college students