As the number of COVID-19 cases is declining each day and the vaccination drive is picking up pace, several state governments have decided to reopen educational institutes and resume offline classes with several COVID-19 safety guidelines set in place.
Schools have been shut across the country since March 2020, and now, states have started to reopen educational institutes and finally resume offline classes, mostly for students in senior standards. Some states have issued the SOPs for school reopening, while others are yet to issue their list of guidelines.
Here are the states reopening schools after Diwali-
Delhi– The Delhi government had issued the order earlier that the schools in the national capital will resume from November 1 for physical classes. Though the classroom teaching will resume, online classes will also be made available for those who cannot go to school for now.
West Bengal– The West Bengal government had announced a few weeks back the schools will reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from November 16. The classes will be conducted in physical mode, yet no official set of guidelines have been issued by the state government yet.
Karnataka– Most of the schools in Karnataka have resumed offline classes, but several private schools have decided to reopen their premises for students after Diwali. Students are advised to get in touch with their respective schools to know more about the final dates of reopening.
Odisha– The Odisha government has decided to reopen the schools for Classes 6 and 7 after Diwali for physical classes. The schools had already been reopened for students of Classes 8 to 12 in the state in October, as per media reports.
Kerala– The schools in Kerala have reopened for physical classes from November 1, for the students of Classes 1 to 7. The offline classes will resume once again after Diwali, and the staff has been asked to be vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine before coming to school.
Tamil Nadu- The schools for junior classes in Tamil Nadu has been reopened from November 1, but are currently closed for Diwali break. The offline classes for Standard 1 to 7 will resume once again after Diwali. Students and staff have been asked to wear a mask at all times and maintain proper social distance.
Maharashtra– The Maharashtra government has already reopened its schools and other educational institutes from the month of October. The schools have been asked to conduct thermal checks at entry points and regularly sanitize classrooms.
