As a part of Unlock 5.0 Guidelines, Ministry of Home Affairs permitted reopening of educational institutions across the country from 15th October, 2020. However, the Centre has left the final decision about the same to respective state governments and local administration depending upon the prevailing COVID-19 ground situation.
While, schools have been given in-principal approval for reopening, online learning has still been maintained as the preferred mode of education across the country owing to the pandemic.
Even those schools and higher educational institutions which reopen will have to hold voluntary classes with no compulsory attendance. Students who want to visit school for voluntary classes will be able to do so only after their parents’ consent.
Also read: Health Ministry issues SOPs for reopening of schools
Learning will remain as the preferred mode of teaching unless situation permits for the reopening of schools and educational institutions. Moreover, the guidelines also call for voluntary attendance by the students after reopening that too only after written consent from the parents.
According to the Unlock 5.0 Guidelines released today, research scholars and postgraduate students in science and technology streams in centrally-run institutions who require laboratory and experimental works will be allowed to visit the institutions from October 15. However, the guidelines clearly state that the administration or head of the institution of the Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions needs to justify the there is a “genuine requirement” of the PhD and PG students for the lab works. Only after this, students will be permitted to visit institutions for practical work.
