COVID-19: Schools may not open before August, says report

The government thinks the current COVID-19 situation in the country is still not favourable for reopening schools and it may not be possible for the educational institutions to resume their classes until August, reported ThePrint on Monday (June 8).

The Unlock 1 phase of the ongoing lockdown started Monday with the opening of religious places, shopping malls and restaurants, however, a decision on the resumption of classes in schools, colleges and educational institutions is yet to be taken.

Quoting senior officials in the Union HRD ministry, ThePrint reported that the reopening of schools won’t be possible in July, as the Union home ministry had earlier indicated, due to the present pandemic situation in the country.

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An official told the news portal that the government will think of reopening schools after it declares the Class 10 and 12 results by mid-August. The government hopes the situations will be favourable after that, the official was quoted as saying.

The decision for reopening schools will be taken after consultation with the MHA and the Union health ministry, the official said, adding that the government is currently preparing “school safety guidelines”.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ too had confirmed this in an interview with the BBC on June 3, during which he had said that the conditions for reopening schools will be favourable after August.

Earlier, over two lakh parents had signed a petition opposing the reopening of schools in July following the MHA’s assertion last month that schools and colleges can reopen after consultation with their respective states.