Amid a declining number of daily Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra reopens schools for offline classroom sessions. Schools in the state were close in the first week of January due to a spike in the coronavirus cases. In the wake of the emergence of the Omicron variant. Our SOPs are very strict and clear. We have given four days of advance notice to the management of schools to undertake vaccination and sanitisation. And for preparation of time-table.
The timing and other necessary decisions will be taken by the local authorities. The local authorities such as district collector or municipal commissioner based on the local situations. Maharashtra minister Varsha Gaikwad had said on January 20 while announcing the decision .
Maharashtra reopens schools for offline classroom sessions
In Mumbai, the local civic body had announced the closure of schools for Classes 1 to 9 till January 31. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) assessment had indicated that the cases of Omicron infection are not on the rise. And it had said that the curve was flattening. It prompted the officials to propose the reopening of schools for physical attendance.
However, in cities like Pune and Aurangabad, schools will remain shut while classes continue in the online mode. About 62 per cent of surveyed parents in Maharashtra are unwilling to send their children to school from January 24. The findings were based on a survey conducted by the online community platform local circle. Across tier-I, tier-II/III and tier-IV cities of the state that received 4,976 responses.
Of the total, 67 per cent of respondents were men and the remaining 33 per cent women, the survey showed. Talking to reporters on Sunday, Tope said the opening of schools was necessary for the brain development of children. And it was not right to keep them at home for long.
“We have given a lot of flexibility and also stressed that following Covid-19 norms is a must,” the minister said, adding that parents must send their wards to school.