On September 30, the central government announced Unlock 5.0 guidelines which gave states and union territories the flexibility to decide on reopening schools and colleges in a graded manner after October 15, 2020. Most of the states have resumed classes partially and in a staggered manner. Here’s the latest status on school reopening across India.
States where schools have opened partially
Delhi: Classes 10 and 12 had resumed classes on January 18, 2021 while classes 9 and 11 reopened physical classes from February 5.
Haryana: Physical classes have resumed for class 10 and 12 students on December 14, 2020 while for classes 9 and 11 students, schools reopened from December 21, 2020. Meanwhile, students of classes 6 to 8 have begun attending schools from February 1, 2021.
Uttarakhand: Schools reopened in the state on November 17, 2020, for classes 10 and 12 students while classes 6 to 9 and 11 will begin from February 8.
Uttar Pradesh: On February 3, 2021, the Yogi Adityanath government had said that class 6 to 12 will be considered for reopening regular classes in the next 10 days. The Education Department of the Uttar Pradesh government has sent a proposal to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to reopen all schools in the state for students of Grade 1 to 5 from March 1 and for classes 6 to 8 from February 15. Earlier in October 2020, the schools reopened for classes 9 to 12 in a graded manner.
Bihar: Physical classes were held for students of standards 9-12 in schools and final year students in colleges on January 4, 2021. Classes 6 to 8 will resume from February 8 onwards.
Gujarat: The Gujarat government had reopened schools for classes 10 and 12 from January 11 while classes 9 and 11 resumed from February 1.
Rajasthan: Classes 9 to 12 have resumed physical classes from January 18 and students of classes 6 to 8 will rejoin schools from February 8.
Madhya Pradesh: Schools have reopened for students of classes 10 and 12 from December 18, 2020. The government of Madhya Pradesh has decided to keep the schools closed for classes 1 to 8 till March 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides, no annual examinations will be conducted for these classes.
Odisha: Schools reopened for classes 10 and 12 from January 8. A notification issued by the school and mass education department stated classes 9 and 11 will resume from February 8 amid strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines. The notification added that regular classroom teaching for standards 9 and 11 will be held between 8.30 am and 10.30 am, six days a week from February 8 to April 30 during which three periods will be held.
Telangana: Schools for classes 9 to 12 have begun from February 1, 2021
Maharashtra: Following the state government’s orders, schools in 25 districts of Maharashtra reopened from November 23 for classes 9-12. Schools in urban and rural areas of Nashik city reopened from January 4 for the students of classes 9 to 12. While schools in Pune schools resumed from January 4 for classes 9 to 12 and from February 1 for classes 5 to 8.
Mumbai: Schools are yet to reopen
Goa: Schools in the state reopened on November 21 for classes 10 and 12 after eight months. The state government has asked the schools to strictly observe the Covi-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) like thermal screening of students, hand sanitising, wearing of masks, social distancing in classrooms, etc. Decision on reopening school for other classes is still awaited.
Sikkim: Students of classes 11 and 12 started attending school on a voluntary basis with written permission from parents/guardian from October 19 while classes 6-8 resumed on November 2, and classes 3, 4 and 5 on November 23, all on a voluntary basis.
Arunachal Pradesh: Schools reopened for students of Classes 8, 9 and 11 in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday after more than nine months. The school reopened adhering to standard operating procedures and Covid-19 protocols, officials said. Residential schools and hostels, however, will remain closed for now. Classes for students of classes 10 and 12 had already resumed from November 16.
Tripura: Schools in Tripura reopened for the students of classes 10 and 12 on January 4, 2021. On the first day, around 50 per cent of the students turned up for classes.
Karnataka: Schools have reopened in the state from January 1 for students of class 10, second pre-university and Vidyagama programme for government school students of classes 6 to 9. On February 1, schools reopened for classes 9, 10, and first and second year Pre-University reopened across all boards.
Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu schools have reopened for classes 10 and 12 on January 19 while classes 9 and 11 will reopen from February 8.
States where schools reopened fully:
Andhra Pradesh: Schools in the state reopened in a phased manner for students of classes 6 to 12 in November 2020. For classes 1 to 5, schools reopened on February 1, 2021.
Assam: Schools resumed for classes 6 to 12 on November 2, 2020 and for nursery to class 5 from January 1, 2021.
Punjab: The Punjab government has reopened classes 5 to 12 from January 7 while classes 3 and 4 resumed on January 27. The Punjab’s State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has also scheduled pre-board examination for all state government schools for classes 1 to 12 will begin from February 8.
Puducherry: Full-time classes resumed for classes 1 to 12 on January 18, 2021.
States where schools are yet to reopen:
West Bengal: Schools in West Bengal will start in-person classes for students of classes 9 to 12 from February 12, Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee said recently. The government also issued a detailed 28-page guideline contain instructions on the measures that need to be taken by schools for holding physical classes and what teachers, students and parents will have to follow.
Also read:
69% parents in favour of reopening schools from new academic session: Survey
School reopening experience: Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Ghaziabad