The Karnataka government on Monday decided not to reopen schools and pre-university colleges in December in view of the coronavirus outbreak in the state.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, "Experts have opined that we should not take any decision till December end. We will meet again and take an appropriate decision at the time, with regard to the situation. This is not the time as COVID cases may rise and may affect the students," Yediyurappa told media persons.
The decision to not reopen any schools and PU colleges in Karnataka was taken at a meeting where Yediyurappa and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar met government officials from the education department on Monday.
The Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19 had earlier recommended the Karnataka government not to reopen schools in December. "After extensive deliberations, it was unanimously resolved not to reopen schools in December," said Technical Advisory Committee, Karnataka in a statement.
The scenario of COVID-19 in the state shall be reviewed in the last week of December to consider the reopening of schools at an appropriate time subsequently, the committee stressed.
However classes through public broadcaster- "Samveda", and other means like online would continue.
The schools have remained closed since March when the national lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19.
Karnataka has reported 24,887 active COVID-19 cases, 8,36,505 recoveries and 11,654 fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday.
(With agency inputs)
