After eleven months of learning from home, grade 6-8 students in Karnataka are likely to return back to the campus soon with the state government mulling resumption of regular school for these classes under all boards from the third week of February. Reportedly, the the district officials have been instructed to make adequate preparations.
Sources in the state Department of Public Instruction told DH that schools are likely to reopen for grades 6-8 from February 18 or 19.
Moreover, the department had also favoured holding regular classes from 10 am to 4 pm, during a meeting with the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee that was scheduled on Friday, but it was put off.
“There is a lot of pressure from stakeholders and we have also received representations from parents, managements, teachers and educationists to reopen schools for all grades. We plan to present this at the meeting to obtain permission from the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee,” said a Department spokesperson.
Drawing attention to the fact that offline classes for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 were running smoothly, the spokesperson said, “The government is also mulling reopening anganwadis. Hence, we have also decided to reopen schools for grade 6 to 8.”
Meanwhile, officials said that there will be a separate schedule to conduct classes for upper primary grades, along with the Covid-19 protocols. “Attending off-line classes will not be mandatory and a consent letter from the parents is a must. Teachers will continue to hold both offline and online classes,” the officer clarified.
Currently, for grades 6 to 8, offline classes are held under Vidyagama programme and children are allowed to come for a few hours to consult teachers on academic issues.
In a press briefing, Karnataka primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar said he will hold a meeting on February 16 with the Health and Family Welfare Department, Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee to discuss reopening of schools for all grades.
The Department of Public Instruction has decided not to reopen schools for grades 1 to 5 this academic year. However, the government is mulling extending the Vidyagama programme for these grades from the third week of February.
Source: Deccan Herald
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