Maharashtra: The Maharashtra Government has decided to allow to resume offline classes for more students. School Education Minister, Varsha Gaikwad on Tuesday said that, “the students of classes 5 to 12 will be allowed to attend classes in the rural areas from August 17 and in Urban areas Classes 8 to 12 will be allowed to visit schools.”
Maharashtra schools will reopen in areas where the covid cases are under control. A set of SOPs for students has also been released for safe return to schools.
The decision to send students to schools will be ultimately up to their parents, said the ministers.
Gaikwad said that, “Consent of parents is paramount to us, 81% parents said in @scertmaha survey they want schools to reopen so on July 15, 8-12th Std. classes were started in corona free villages. Parents will have final say on physical presence of their wards, attendance norms have been relaxed.”
“When schools get reopened in Maharashtra, teaching hours will be limited to three to four hours per day without any cultural gathering or sports events,” said the Maharashtra’s School Education Minister.
Schools are directed to provide isolation facilities and tie-up with local health departments for an emergency situation.
“In Mumbai, Thane and 11 districts where Covid restrictions are in place, the district collectors have been empowered to assess risk locally and decide on reopening schools,” the minister said.
“For the safety of the staff and students, vaccination has been made compulsory for teachers/staff. We have also constituted a task force headed by the collector/commissioner to monitor the resumption and safe operations of schools,” tweeted Gaikwad.
Only 15-20 students have been directed to appear in class at a given time and to ensure this, “schools will call students on shifts or alternate days. One student will sit in a bench and a distance of six feet will be maintained between two benches. “Every school will have to formulate a safe transportation plan for the students,” said the minister.
“In the event of sickness of the student or a family member, the student is advised to stay at home. It will be the responsibility of the school to ensure such a student’s learning gap is compensated by the school,” Gaikwad added.
“Considering a possible third wave of Covid, no laxity in implementation of these SOPs will be permitted,” said the minister said.
