Reopening of schools—KV and Navodayas propose reopening in November

Vinod Kakumanu
Oct. 31, 2020, 12:16 p.m.

Schools across the country are reopening in varying degrees. Although, the physical classes have not resumed anywhere to date. While states differ in their view about school reopening, national school systems like Kendriya Vidyalaya(KV) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas(JNV) are planning to reopen schools across the nation from November. These organizations account for around 15 lakh students spread across all Indian states and UTs As schools in India start to reopen, KVs and JNVs are also planning to reopen the schools from November 2 across India. At present, there are 1250 KVs and 650 JNVs with 15 lakh students across India. Notably, there are 1250 KVs and 650 JNVs in India at present.

If this comes to pass, the KVs and JNVs will become the first schools to reopen in India. The assessment of the situation is underway and the way forward is being charted out. As per the scant details that have trickled in, the schools will initially open only for classes 9 to 12.

The reopening on this scale has to be approved by the Ministry of Health, ministry of education, and the Center. Reportedly, the approval from all three has been secured and now the stakeholders are being approached for consultation.

Now, the JNVs are residential schools, hence require additional permissions and strict adherence to SOPs for readmitting children into the campuses.

In the wake of unlock-4 guidelines issuance by the center, the KVs considered reopening as early as September 21 for classes 9 to 12, however, the reluctance of the parents hampered the early plans and the schools had to do with online classes.

The parents and teachers have been approached again and the review has been reinitiated. The schools in the states have restarted in many parts of the country and now its turn for the national schools.

The states that have seen reopening of the schools include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Himachal Pradesh. The students, only those in 9 to 12, are required to attend only voluntarily and the attendance, it must be added, has been scant. However, it is expected that the situation will improve.

Notably, the reopening of schools for preschoolers and primary children is still not in sight. The colleges may also open from November, however, notifications to this effect are still awaited.