Schools in Delhi were shut down last year in March as a precaution amid the increasing Covid-19 cases. While several states have already partially reopened schools last October, but the Delhi government allowed physical classes only for standard 9-12 in January this year, however, they were suspended again with the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases during the second wave.
Presently, students
of classes 10, 11, and 12 can visit schools with the consent of parents for
admission and board exam-related activities like practical.
With
the looming third wave of Covid-19, schools in the capital are to be opened
again but in a phased manner from September 1.
"About 70 per cent of people
wanted schools to reopen, according to a Delhi government survey. We are still
working on the protocols. It will be a blended mode of online and in-person
classes," Mr Sisodia, also the Education Minister, said.
"Given that Covid cases have
come down and the positivity rate is just 0.1 per cent, we feel we can open
schools now. Almost 98 per cent of staff in Delhi schools have had at least one
dose," he said.
Students of grade 9 to 12 will be attending physical classes meanwhile
students of standard 6 to 8 will continue with the offline classes at present.
"It has been decided to resume
schools, colleges, coaching activities in Delhi with all precautions, in a
phased manner. From September 1, classes for standard 9-12 in all schools, their
coaching classes as well as all colleges/universities will be permitted to
resume," announced Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on August 27.
Mr. Sisodia has
ensured that parental consent will be primary for students to come to school.
If parents don't permit, students will not be forced to physically attend and
they'll not be marked absent either.
This decision
was made after an expert committee set up by the Delhi Disaster Management
Authority (DDMA) recommended a phase-wise reopening of schools in the national
capital starting September.
