Pramesh S Jain.Yogesh K Porwar
Karnataka Government has decided to reopen schools for classes 6 to 8 from September 6 onwards. Schools will only be allowed to reopen in areas with less than 2 per cent of positive rates. Classes will be held in batches where 50% of students will be allowed on one day while the remaining 50% will be allowed on the second day.
The decision came after a meeting between the expert panel and the government officials.Most of the states are opening schools for classes 9 to 12, however, in Karnataka considering the declining COVID-19 cases,the facility has been extended to the younger classes as well. For classes 9 to 12, schools reopened last week.
Schools for about 29 lakh children studying in Classes 6 to 8 across schools in the state after success of the reopening for senior classes.
For classes 6 to 8, schools will be open five days a week and during weekends,sanitisation will be carried out by the schools and the state is reporting footfalls from students.Classes have been shut since mid-March 2020.
A 13-member advisory council was set up to study COVID-19 condition and recommend school reopening. The panel had suggested phase-wise reopening of schools, as per the government order.
Schools will reopen amid COVID-19 restrictions wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing will be mandatory. Attending the school will not be a mandate and students and parents can opt to study online or in physical mode. Both online and offline classes will go simultaneously.
