Schools in Bengal will not reopen in October- Mamata Banerjee | Photo credit: iStock Images
On September 30, 2020, West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ruled out any possibility that schools in the state would reopen soon. She said her government will take a call on the issue no earlier than mid-November.
The Interior Ministry yesterday issued new guidelines allowing for more activities outside the containment zones, including the opening of movie theaters, theaters and multiplex cinemas with only 50 percent of their seating capacity as of October 15, 2020.
The governments of all states and UT have been given the flexibility to decide on the reopening of schools and other educational institutions after October 15, 2020, gradually. MHA has also allowed social, religious and political gatherings beyond the 100-person limit, subject to certain conditions. Related | Schools and Universities in India that can reopen from Oct 15 gradually as per Unlock 5.0 guidelines
Mamata Banerjee, at an administrative review meeting in North Bengal, said that a decision would be made regarding the reopening of schools after Kali puja on November 14, 2020. All schools have been closed in Bengal since March 16. “Any decision on reopening the schools will be made after Kali puja,” said CM Banerjee.
It was earlier that state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee reported that West Bengal would rather wait for the pandemic to slow down as it was not in favor of “exposing its students to health risks” by reopening schools and starting with the classes.
At the meeting, Banerjee also announced that 50 acres in North Bengal have been allocated to Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University for its second campus. “Work for the second campus will begin soon,” he said.
