As the infections of COVID-19 continue to spread around the corners, the students all over the country are suffering the most since the schools and colleges have remained closed. A great number of students have been suffering from a lack of education since the last week of March because of the pandemic. Everyone is awaiting the re-opening of the educational institutions.
Presently, India is steadily processing the nationwide unlocking in phases, currently in Unlock 4.0. Guidelines regarding Unlock 4.0 have been issued by the Union Home Ministry, which includes the unlocking of the public transport system including the buses, metros, and trains beginning in a staggered manner. The guidelines of Unlock 4.0 advise the re-opening of the educational institutions cautiously.
However, considering how the infection rates and cases are rapidly increasing across the country, the Centre has issued orders for schools and colleges to remain shut till 30th September 2020. It was believed that the schools would be re-opened across the country since 1st September 2020 with the Unlock 4.0 in action.
On 8th September 2020, Union Health Ministry issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for re-opening the schools partially for students from class 9th to 12th voluntarily, for receiving help from teachers, with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SOP was issued by the ministry in response to the Centre’s decision of unlocking different social activities phase-wise. It has also issued preventive measures, generic in nature, including measures regarding public health that is required to be followed in order to minimize the COVID-19 risks.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the government of Uttarakhand said that no educational institution of any manner in the state will open from 21st September 2020. Arvind Pandey, Education Minister of Uttarakhand said that no schools regardless of the kind would be opened from 21st September 2020 in the state, also that the decision was taken keeping in view how the cases keep increasing. He further added that the children’s future shall not be put at risk so as to why the decision regarding not opening the schools and colleges has been taken by the government.
Prior to this, Haryana’s Education Minister had also issued a statement during an event about this matter. Kanwar Pal Gurjar said that Haryana is adequately prepared to re-open the schools in the state, further adding that the state government is awaiting guidelines and permission from the central government.
The Education Minister of Haryana assured that the preparations regarding the re-opening of schools in the state have been finalized. He said that when the permission from the central government is received, the schools are allowed to be re-opened, further stating that the state government had taken necessary measures to ensure online education for the students during the lockdown.
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