COVID-19: Delhi schools shut for students and staff, exams postponed

NEW DELHI: The Government of Delhi on Thursday announced it is shutting all schools even for teaching and non-teaching staff to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. It has also postponed exams.

Delhi was the first among the states and Union Territories to close schools. It first shut all primary schools on March 5 and then closed all educational institutions on March 12. However, the schools were open for teachers, head-teachers and other staff and the board examinations were on as per schedule. Most Delhi schools, including the government-run ones, are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE. The CBSE, on March 18, announced that it was postponing its own exams following the directions of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, or MHRD.

According to these directions, all educational institutions including schools, colleges, industrial training institutes and polytechnics located in Delhi will remain closed till March 31, 2020. However, staff will be considered on duty and can be called when required. The staff can carry on the evaluation work of exams at their homes.

The Delhi Government’s directions also require heads of school and staff to be available on phone when required and they must remain connected to each other and students through electronic media. “It is advised that they remain at home and be available to report for duty at any time if required,” says the circular.

Currently, Delhi has 12 confirmed cases and one death. India has seen a total of 173 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections with 149 “active” ones and four deaths.

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