Junior schools not likely to reopen soon in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The reopening of schools for students of classes I to VIII in the state is unlikely during the current academic session owing to the rise in Covid-19 cases in Kerala and Maharashtra. The government was contemplating reopening junior classes in February and conducting at least 60 days of physical classroom teaching before the final examination.
After the Special Relief Commissioner allowed reopening of schools and asked the school and mass education department to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP), the department has prepared an SOP and was getting ready to reopen the schools for junior classes by the end of this month and was waiting for the approval of the CM, said a senior officer of school and mass education department, adding that in view of the deteriorating situation in Kerala and Maharashtra, the decision is not likely to be positive.
“We are following a wait and watch policy. We cannot put the health of kids at risk,” said school and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash.
Owing to Covid-19 outbreak, all educational institutes across the state remained closed from March 17. To prepare class X and XII students for the board exams, the state government decided to resume physical classes for students of these two classes from January 8, which will continue for 100 days without break. Later the offline classes for students of classes IX and XI started from February 8.
The state has been conducting classes for IX to XII in two shifts. “It is causing immense problems for schools with less number of teachers. If the government allows reopening of junior classes it would be difficult to maintain distance and ensure all kids wear masks,” said Ramani Ranjan Sahu, a teacher.