Schools reopening news: All classes in this state will start simultaneously

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to trouble the country, normalcy has started to return despite a record number of cases being reported every day. As the Unlock 4.0 guidelines issued by the government also suggest school college reopening cautiously from Monday (September 21), several states are gearing up to reopen the schools from Class IX-XII.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced that all the classes would start functioning simultaneously across the state once the coronavirus pandemic comes under control.

Dismissing the idea of holding shift-based classes and phased-reopening of educational institutions, Tamil Nadu Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan said that the government will wait for few more weeks before allowing the schools to reopen. He added that all the schools in the state have adequate infrastructure and classrooms to ensure the social distancing norms and there's no need for classes to be held in shifts.

Notably, students have suffered the most due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country. They have remained closed since the last week of March, due to which there has been a lot of loss of students' education and now everyone is waiting for the schools to open.

The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday released SOP for the opening of schools from September 21. While students from classes 9th to 12th will be allowed to go to school to take guidance from teachers, it will be completely their own choice. For this, parents/guardians have to give written consent.

Schools outside the containment zone will be allowed to be opened. However, students, teachers, school staff residing in the containment zone will not be allowed to come to school.

The guidelines said that cleaning and regular disinfection (using 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite) of frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails, chairs, benches, washroom fixtures, etc.) will be made mandatory in all classrooms, laboratories, lockers, parking areas, other common areas before the beginning of classes and at the end of the day.

On Friday, the Delhi government on Friday announced that all schools will continue to remain closed till October 5 amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

"All government and private schools will remain closed for all students till October 5. However, online teaching and learning activities will continue as usual," an official order issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said.

School principals are authorised to call "staff as per requirement for smooth conduct of online classes or any other work", it said.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government had issued a notification stating that students of classes 9 to 12 can visit their schools, in areas outside containment zones, on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers.