The coronavirus cases in the country have started to show a downward trend. Over the last few days, the number of new corona cases have been hovering around 30,000 mark. As the situation appears to be improving, some states are preparing to reopen schools. In states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Bihar, schools for 10th and 12th classes have started or will start this month. This has put pressure on other states to reopen schools.
Locally, schools are starting in cities where there are no cases of coronavirus. Many cities, including Patna and Kolkata, currently following this system. Now the government is under pressure from teachers and parents. In Bangalore, a protest is being held today demanding reopening of schools.
The Uttarakhand government has decided to start schools from December 15. 10th and 12th standard schools will be started in Haryana from Monday, whereas classes for 9th and 11th standard will start from 21st December. Class 9th to 12th schools have been started in Maharashtra. However, classes 5th to 8th are closed. Even in Odisha, there is confusion over the opening of schools. However chances of reopening of schools in Odisha are very less this year. Schools up to 8th standard are likely to open in Bihar soon.
Many states have even announced that they will not open schools this year. States like Delhi, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram will not reopen schools this year. In Madhya Pradesh, schools up to class 8 will be closed till March 31, 2021. A peaceful agitation has been called in Bangalore today. The protesters demanded that the school be started immediately. Educationist VP Niranjan Aradhya said that schools have remained closed since March, which has resulted in ‘devastating consequences’ for the nutrition and health of children. “Child labour and early marriages have increased. The absence of structured learning opportunities is causing severe academic regression.
Many state governments are waiting for the corona vaccine.