The Gujarat government is likely to consider reopening schools only after Diwali, a senior official said. Vinod Rao, secretary of the state department of education, said there was no immediate plan to reopen schools. “We are not doing this right away. We will consider reopening schools only after Diwali (holiday) after assessing the coronavirus situation, ”Rao told PTI on Saturday.
He said the education department has contacted representatives of parents and school associations on the matter.
Diwali will be celebrated this year on November 14.
The state government had previously decided not to reopen schools as of September 21 based on the Center’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that allowed students to visit schools for guidance from teachers with parental permission.
Under the latest SOP, the Center has allowed states and Union Territories to make a decision on reopening schools gradually beginning Oct. 15.
“The Center’s guideline to reopen schools from October 15 cannot be implemented in Gujarat given its COVID-19 situation. It will be too early to open schools, especially for students below Class 10, ”said Jatin Bharad, Vice President of Gujarat Self-Financing School Management Association.
Even if the government and schools agree to resume classes, parents are unwilling, he said.
“If parents don’t take responsibility, schools won’t, because they have to handle hundreds of students, and even one infected student can put them and their family members in danger,” Bharad said.
If the situation improves in October, schools can be expected to reopen in the second half of November, after Diwali, he said.
Most parents are of the opinion that it makes no sense to reopen schools in the current academic year, and the government should consider promoting students to the next class, said Naresh Shah, president of the All Gujarat Parents Association.
“Almost half of the current academic year has already passed because the schools remain closed. We have asked the state education minister to consider mass promotions for students so that they can start their next academic calendar without a hitch, ”said Shah.
“At the same time, the government must ensure that the board exams for classes 10 and 12 are carried out on time in March next year,” he said.
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