Schools in Maharashtra to reopen for all classes from December 1

It's time to go back to school for Maharashtra students. Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said that the state government had decided to restart physical classes for students standard 1-4 in rural areas and standard 1-7 in urban areas. Other classes had already resumed

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has announced that schools will be reopen for all classes from December 1. "After discussing with CM, cabinet & paediatric task force, state cabinet has decided to re-open schools from Std 1-4 in rural areas and Std 1-7 in urban areas from 1st Dec. We're committed to safe resumption of schools," Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said.

Earlier in October, the state government had decided to resume physical classes in schools for other classes. Gaikwad had then announced that in rural areas, classes will resume for class 5 to 12 while in urban areas, for classes 8 to 12. 

"We are committed to safe resumption of schools. In the next six days, the emphasis will be on acclimatizing schools, parents and children towards a safe transition to physical classes, as classrooms have been shut for nearly two years. We will be holding consultations with school management committees and parents," Gaikwad said. She will also hold deliberations with the pediatric task force on the need to update Standard Operating Procedure for reopening schools for these children, some of whom will be attending physical classes for the first time, Gaikwad said. The task force was appointed earlier this year when experts feared that children might be affected by a possible third wave.

The education minister thanked schools, especially teachers, for ensuring a safe environment for classes that have resumed so far. Maharashtra on Wednesday (November 24) recorded 960 new COVID-19 cases and 41 fatalities that raised the tally of infections to 66,32,257 and death toll to 1,40,807. 

(With Agency inputs)