Schools and colleges allowed to reopen in India from October 15 | Photo credit: iStock Images
Key points
- Schools and Universities in India have been allowed to reopen as of October 15 on a phased basis as per Unlock 5.0 guidelines.
- Online learning should continue as the preferred mode of teaching, with school attendance being strictly voluntary and with parental consent.
- The reopening of universities is allowed only for technical HEIs and for research academics, postgraduate students who require access to the laboratory.
Home Office, MHA has published Unlock Guidelines 5.0. Under the revised guidelines, schools and universities in India are allowed to reopen from October 15 on a gradual basis. The decision to reopen schools and universities should be made in consultation with the school / institution management after assessing the situation. Attendance is not compulsory in schools.
Regarding the universities, the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education has been authorized to make the decision on the reopening of the universities / Institutions of Higher Education or IES. The decision for schools must also be made after assessing the situation on the ground. For both schools and universities, online learning would remain the preferred mode of teaching and encouragement. See full guidelines for reopening schools and colleges below.
Unlock 5.0 Guidelines for Reopening Schools in India
- Schools and training institutions were given permission to reopen in a phased manner from October 15, 2020. This would have to be done after assessing the situation.
- Online learning and preferred mode of teaching should be promoted
- Attendance should not be compulsory or compulsory and students would still require parental consent to attend school (voluntary)
- In case schools offer classes online and some students prefer classes online and not physical, the school should allow them to do so.
- The states and UT would prepare their own standard operating procedures according to the details POE published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the reopening of schools in the country. Additionally, schools must ensure that SOPs are followed strictly and to the letter.
- Schools within the containment zones would remain closed.
Mark cComplete MHA Unlock 5.0 Guidelines. It should be noted that the states would make decisions regarding the reopening of schools in the region. The school administration can also decide whether or not to reopen the school.
Unlock 5.0 Guielines for the reopening of universities and higher education institutions in India
- The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, has been asked to make the decision on the reopening of the universities in a phased manner, depending on the situation.
- Online education should be the preferred mode of teaching
- Only higher education institutions for research academics (Ph.Ds) and science and technology graduate students requiring laboratory work would be allowed to reopen as of October 15.
- For the same reason, directors of centrally funded higher education institutions (e.g. IIT, NIT and other technical institutes or HEIs) would make the decision after being satisfied whether actual laboratory / experimentation work is required before giving permission to reopen .
- State and private universities and other HEIs can reopen only for researchers and graduate students in science and technology, depending on the decision of the respective state governments.
Note that undergraduate colleges offering arts and commerce courses have not been granted reopening permission under Unlock 5.0. The guidelines clearly specify that the reopening of only science and technology or research graduate schools that absolutely requires a job assignment. Additionally, the MHA SOPs for college reopening must be followed in letter and spirit.
