Karnataka May See Schools Reopen for Classes 6 to 12 by January End

Vinod Kakumanu
Jan. 30, 2021, 12:33 p.m.

After a long 9 month continuous closure, schools in Karnataka are set to be reopened by the end of January 2021. The decision for reopening has been confirmed by the State Minister for Education, S. Suresh Kumar.

The schools are reopening, although the children in classes 6 to 9 still need to bring in written consent from their parents. There is no such express condition for classes 10 to 12.

The reopening of schools was finalized after a ministerial meeting chaired by the state CM, the health minister was also present. The submission of the state health department which took stock of the corona crisis in the state was reviewed at the meeting before the decision in favor of reopening of the schools in the state.

The schools will reopen by the end of January, however, there are still conditions for admitting children into the campus. Notably, children with symptoms resembling covid-9 infection shall not attend and the strength of the class is not allowed to exceed 20 at any time. Moreover, the Vidygama scheme that applies to the children in classes 6 to 9 is not compulsory. As for the mid-day meals, they will remain suspended, however, the food packets will be supplied to the children at home.

Schools across the country will be reopened in stages, the current announcement on reopening is a part of the staggered opening program.

Although there have been appeals from different quarters in favor of reopening of schools, the government has decided against hastening to reopen schools indiscriminately as the threat of infection has not been neutralized.