The state school education department issued an updated government resolution (GR) on Wednesday, two days after releasing and immediately deleting a GR directing the reopening of schools for grades 8 to 12 in no-covid zones. According to this GR, schools in zones where there hasn’t been a single Covid-19 case will be allowed to resume physical education classes for students in grades 8-12 after receiving parental consent.
The GR also calls for the formation of an eight-member committee comprised of local collectors, school principals, and health officials to determine whether or not Covid-free zones should be established. In rural areas, the head of the gramme panchayat will chair this committee, which will decide which schools will be allowed to begin physical education classes. Similarly, each district will form the committee, and schools will need the committee’s approval before reopening, according to the GR.
“Children from across the state have been cooped up in their homes due to the lockdown, missing out on quality education.” Their education is limited to what they can learn online, which leads to other issues such as screen addiction and poor academic performance.
It also stated that when students are on campus, schools and junior colleges will follow basic standard operating procedure (SOP) and maintain social distancing as well as conduct regular temperature checks. “To ensure proper social distancing rules are followed, schools should ensure that no more than 20 students are seated in a class,” says the GR.
The school education department issued a similar circular in November of last year, announcing the phased reopening of schools for grades 9 to 12. Another circular was issued in January, instructing students in grades 5 through 8 to return to school in groups and to maintain Covid appropriate behaviour on campus.
While the GR issued on Monday was removed after some stakeholders complained about flaws in the process, the new GR issued on Wednesday clarifies the re-opening process. Schools in Mumbai, on the other hand, believe that this GR will be difficult to implement in districts such as Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.
“Because the state’s Covid situation remains precarious, school reopenings cannot be implemented across all districts. In cities such as Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, parents will never agree to reopening schools unless there are no more cases reported in the city, or the government begins to vaccinate children as well “said the principal of a school in south Mumbai. She went on to say that she will continue to do so.
