Earlier, the Maharashtra Government has announced that the schools in the state will reopen from August 17, however, the government has now taken a u-turn after objections voiced from the task force on COVID.
The Classes for 5 to 12 standards in rural areas and Classes 8 to 12 standards in urban areas likely have opened up as the situation of Covid is under control. Meanwhile, a cabinet decision was taken to put these resolutions on hold after the task force showed reluctance.
A meeting was held recently among the higher officials from the education department and the task force. The Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was also present during the meeting.
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The apprehension among the stakeholders is that the children below 18 years are not vaccinated and the forecasted third wave of COVID 19 pandemic may impact them.
When asked Maharashtra School Education Minister, Varsha Gaikwad on reopening of schools in the state, he said on Thursday that the local officials will decide after taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation in the area.
The Minister was however not present at the meeting. The minister told reporters that municipal commissioners in urban areas, collectors and all Zilla Parishad CEOs in the rural areas have been given discretion to make decisions on this.
“There is no compulsion (on the state government’s part) to reopen schools. The COVID task force members were not aware of our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). There will be a meeting again. Our (education department’s) secretary is studying the SOP of the task force,” the minister added.