The Chief Minister said that this system will be implemented in November (Representational)
Hyderabad:
Schools in Andhra Pradesh will reopen from November 2, with classes on alternate days for students in grades 1-12, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy announced on Tuesday in a video conference. While classes for odd-numbered grades will take place on one day, students in even grades will attend the next day, he said.
Schools with more than 750 students will be able to open once every three days and will have to provide lunch to attendees at noon, Reddy said, adding that classes can only be held in the morning shift.
The Chief Minister said that this system will be implemented in November; the decision for December will be made after the evaluation. He said online classes will be held for students who do not want to attend physical classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schools across the country had been closed since March, when the Center announced the first stage of the nationwide coronavirus shutdown. The central government, the highest executive authority on matters related to the pandemic, recently allowed the reopening of schools with strict security protocols under its Unlock5 guidelines.
Even with coronavirus safety rules in place, only government schools in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have resumed classes for seniors.
According to India’s leading medical body ICMR, children under the age of 10 are among the groups most vulnerable to the disease.
Mr. Reddy has instructed officials to complete infrastructure development work in public schools under the Nadu-Nedu scheme by November 15.
It has also ordered officials to relocate Anganwadi centers that operate in rented space to permanent buildings.
Andhra Pradesh, which is also dealing with flooding in some areas, has become the second most affected state by the coronavirus in the country, with more than 7.86,000 infections, including more than 6,450 deaths.
India reported fewer than 50,000 new coronavirus cases in one day on Tuesday for the first time since late July. Experts say the country could have crossed its Covid peak, but there may be a resurgence of the virus in the upcoming holiday season.
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