Several states and union territories, including Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi, have announced short-term school closures or suspensions until further review of the COVD-19 situation in the wake of growing cases across the country. According to data released by the Union Ministry of Health on Monday, the epidemic in India has reached a record high every day in India since the outbreak of more than one million new infections.
While a few states and union territories like Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu have announced the closure of schools for an indefinite period, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab, among others, have suspended classes for a brief period. Schools have been directed to impart education through online classes in view of the situation.
The Delhi government had last week announced that no student will be called to the school in the new academic session till further orders.
On Sunday, the national capital had recorded 4,033 coronavirus cases, the highest daily count this year, while the positivity rate rose to 4.64 per cent from 4.48 per cent a day ago, according to the Delhi health department.
The administration of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has announced that all schools for students up to class 9 will remain closed for two weeks from April 5.
The Uttar Pradesh government has extended to April 11 the closure of schools for students up to class 8. Earlier, the state government had shut schools for students up to class 8 till March 31.
In Maharashtra, which recorded 57,074 coronavirus cases, only students of classes 10 and 12, and candidates preparing for the MPSC exam will be allowed to carry out their regular academic activities.
The Punjab government has ordered that schools in the state will remain shut till April 10. Earlier, it had ordered that schools and colleges be closed till March 31.
While in Gujarat, schools for students of classes 1 to 9 have been shut for an indefinite period, the Rajasthan government has also suspended schools for the same classes from April 5 to 19.
The Bihar government has deferred the reopening of schools and colleges from April 5 to April 11. The Karnataka government has taken a slew of decisions including shutting down boarding and residential hostels for primary and secondary schools and optional attendance for students of classes 10, 11 and 12.
In Madhya Pradesh, the government has decided to close all schools in the state up to class 8 till April 15, while in Tamil Nadu, schools in the state have been shut for classes 9, 10 and 11 from March 2 until further notice.
Schools and colleges in Chhattisgarh were ordered to be closed by the state government on March 22 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The government has not communicated any date for the reopening of educational institutes yet.
The union territory of Puducherry had asked all schools to close from March 22. The schools have only been closed for students of classes 1 to 8 while the lessons for higher classes are being conducted.
Schools across the country closed in March last year ahead of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The schools remained closed for months and teaching and learning continued online. Several states started reopening schools partially in October last year.
