COVID-19 | School, college reopening in 2021; Delhi schools for Class 9, 11 to reopen tomorrow

The annual public examinations for Class 10 students in Andhra Pradesh will be held from June 7 to 16. The 2021-22 academic year for schools will begin on July 1 after the summer vacation from May 16 to June 30, state Education Minister A Suresh said, according to PTI report. 

Schools, which remained closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, began functioning from February 1 and would continue till June 5 for classes 1 to 10. As a large portion of the current academic year was lost due to Covid-19 pandemic, the syllabus has been reduced by 35 per cent, the minister added.

Colleges and universities in West Bengal, closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak, will not reopen campuses immediately, Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said. However, the vice chancellors have urged the state government to allow institutions to conduct classes and exams of odd- semesters on online mode.

Government and private schools reopened for Classes 9 and 12 on February 1 in the summer zone of the Jammu region amid strict COVID-19 protocol, over 10 months after remaining closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After conducting physical classes for Class 10 and 12 students for a month, the Odisha government has decided to reopen schools for the students of Classes 9 and 11 from February 8 amid strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

A notification issued by the school and mass education department said that regular classroom teaching for students of Class 9 and 11 will be held between 8.30 am and 10.30 am six days a week from February 8 to April 30.

All schools for classes 9 and 11 students as well as degree diploma institutions, including polytechnics and ITIs, in the national capital, will reopen from February 5, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. Similar to the guidelines announced for Classes 10 and 12 students on January 18, the minister said, students will attend classes only with the consent of parents, physical attendance will not be compulsory and all schools and colleges will be expected to follow the COVID-19 guidelines.

All schools of Uttarakhand will reopen from February 8 for Classes 6 to 12, Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik said. The decision is applicable to both the government and private schools, according to PTI report. Schools in Uttarakhand had been reopened earlier in November last year only for Classes 10 and 12. Schools are being reopened on this scale in the state for the first time after the imposition of lockdown nearly a year ago amid the COVID-19 outbreak.  

Punjab reopened all anganwadi centres from 10 AM to 1 PM from February 1. Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary said anganwadi centres were opened on December 8, 2020, for workers and helpers 

"The practical exams for Maharashtra state board's Class 12 will be held between April 1 and 22, and for Class 10 between April 9 and 28," PTI quoted the state education minister, Varsha Gaikwad as saying.

Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad on January 21 announced that the written exams for Class 12 of the state board will be held from April 23 to May 29, and of Class 10 from April 29 to May 31, PTI reported. The exams are usually held in February and March, which have to be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Punjab School Education Department on January 20 announced to restart primary classes at all schools from January 27, PTI reported. Earlier this month, the state government had reopened schools for Classes 5 to 12. “Following persistent demand of parents, the state government has decided to reopen all schools for primary classes from January 27,” Education minister Vijay Inder Singla in a statement.

Bihar Board of Scool Education had released the Class 10 exam dates on October 7, 2020. The Bihar Board exam date 2021 Class 10 will fall between February 17 and 24, 2021.

A student, on Twitter, said, "Bihar board will conduct exams in February and the classes started in January. Our syllabus is not yet completed." 

Demanding time for Bihar board exam preparation, a student tweeted, "We are in depression now...how (will) they write answers in exam hall without study. Please give us time."

Requesting Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to postpone Bihar board exam 2021, a student said, "There was no online class in Bihar. We are dependent on tuition and coaching classes. How do we prepare in just a month (for the board exam)."

At least 11 girl students of Classes 10 and 12 tested positive for coronavirus on January 18 during random testing on the campus of a school-cum-hostel in Keshod town in Gujarat's Junagadh district on the first day of resumption of classes, PTI reported officials as saying. The students were from K A Vanpariya Kanya Vinay Mandir.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia ruled out scrapping of nursery admission process this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic. "As of now, there is no plan to scrap nursery admissions this year. We are late this year in issuing notification but it will happen," he told reporters, as per PTI report. Usually, the process to enter children in the nursery in around 1,700 schools in Delhi begins in the last week of November.

Schools in Rajasthan opened for Classes 9 to 12 today, on January 18, ten months after they were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with only a handful of students returning to classes, PTI reported. Students were given a warm welcome at schools, which were sanitised on Sunday, and teachers ensured they wore masks and maintained social distancing. The state government has allowed schools to reopen with each room having 50 per cent seating capacity and students attending classes with the consent of their parents.

Class 10 and 12 students were welcomed with balloons, flowers and sanitizers in Delhi today as they returned to campuses after over 10 months.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on January 17 said schools in the state will reopen only when students and teachers are not at any risk of contracting COVID-19. "There have been instances of people getting infected after resumption of classes in another state, where schools had to shut again. We don't want to have the same experience in Bengal. We will take the decision of reopening of school campuses at the appropriate time," PTI quoted Chatterjee.

The Delhi government had earlier clarified that no COVID-19 symptomatic students will be allowed to enter the school premises and that they will also not be permitted to appear for the exams. The government agreed for the reopening of schools for Class 10, Class 12 in order to make sure that the students do not miss out on pre-board and practical exam preparation.

The Manipur government has decided that schools and colleges in the state will reopen from January 27, PTI reported an official as saying. The state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh decided that schools will reopen for students of Class 9 to 12. It also decided that all colleges will also reopen from January 27 by strictly following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of COVID-19, a release issued by the Information and Public Relations department said.

The Delhi government is all set to reopen schools outside COVID-19 containment zones for Classes 10 and 12 from today, January 18 in view of board exams. However, it made clear that physical attendance is not compulsory and students will attend schools only with the consent of parents. The Directorate of Education (DoE) has instructed schools to follow all COVID-19 guidelines when classroom studies resume.

At least 10 girl students of a government-run school have tested positive for coronavirus infection in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district, an official said on Saturday.The local administration has decided to shut the school for a week, after the infections were detected among Class 12 students. The reports of these students came out positive for the infection on Saturday, he said, adding that reports of 25 more students are awaited.

Mizoram School Education Director James Lalrinchhana told PTI that schools will remain closed for students other than Classes 10 and 12 until further orders. The meeting also decided to revamp swab sample testing and quarantine protocols for the people who are returning to the state from outside.

Mizoram has decided to allow reopening of schools for Classes 10 and 12 from January 22, officials said. The decisions were taken at a meeting among doctors, churches and civil society groups. Health minister R Lalthangliana presided over the meeting. It was decided that regular Classes will begin at schools for students of Class 10 and Class 12, who are appearing for the board exams in April. They will also be allowed to stay at hostels for preparation. However, students will have to clear Rapid Antigen Test before going to schools. 

Industrial training institutes, polytechnics and engineering colleges will also open from February 1. The decision to reopen these institutions was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jairam Thakur after reviewing the coronavirus situation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said. The management of these institutions will ensure the use of face masks, sanitisers and social distancing, he added. All government colleges will open from February 8 after winter vacations, he added.

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to partially open schools from next month, a minister said, as per PTI report. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said Classes 5 and 8-12 in schools in the plains of the Himachal Pradesh will commence from February 1 while those in hilly areas will commence from February 15. 

The Punjab government directed all the colleges and institutions to release degrees to the Scheduled Caste students within three days. The directive comes after taking serious note of the withholding of degrees of the SC students by private colleges/institutions due to non-payment of fees after the closure of post-matric scheme for SC students by the Centre in 2017. The decision was taken during a meeting of the high-powered committee of the group of ministers, according to a government release. 

After remaining closed for over 10 months amid the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will reopen for Classes 5 to 8 in Maharashtra from January 27, state education minister Varsha Gaikwad said on Friday, PTI reported. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), however, said that schools and colleges in Mumbai will stay shut ‘till further orders’. Schools and junior colleges for Classes 9 to 12 had reopened in parts of the state earlier this month based on the COVID-19 situation in respective areas.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has released the NIOS admit card for January/February 2021 exams. Students of Class 10 and Class 12 can download the hall ticket from the official website nios.ac.in. The hall ticket has been released for both theory and practical exams. 

Twitter is flooded with requests by students to conduct the CBSE Class 9 and Class 11 examinations in online mode due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Students have also suggested that the authorities can give an option to choose the mode of exam.  

The Gujarat Board will conduct the GSEB Class 12 practical examination for science stream from March 30 onwards. The theory examination will be conducted in two slots, morning from 10:30 AM to 1:45 PM and evening from 3 PM to 6:30 PM, respectively.

The requests for NEET dates and syllabus have been increased after the announcement of JEE Main and Advanced exam dates by the education minister. Besides the date of exam, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms have been flooded with the queries on NEET 2021 exam mode, reduction of the syllabus and request to conduct exam twice a year.

An online campaign demanding the cancellation of CBSE 2021 board exams has begun by a group of students. The Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE 2021 exams, are to be held between May 4 and June 10. Calling it a difficult year, students in the online petition said that the shift to online classes does not help them prepare for board exams. The petition has been signed by over 150. 

"A gene sequencing test has been started at the premier medical university and it would soon be replicated in BHU, Varanasi and Lucknow-based Central Drug Research Institute and the National Botanical Research Institute," PTI quoted chief of KGMU’s Department of Microbiology Dr Amita Jain. In KGMU, 10 patients with corona infection were tested for the gene sequencer machine, in which none of the new forms of the coronavirus was found, she added. 

Keeping in view of the new infectious strain of COVID-19, JNU has decided to conduct testing camps in the university campus on regular intervals. The JNU, which was physically shut in March last year in view of the ongoing pandemic, started its phased reopening of the campus on November 2. As per the standard operating preventive measures laid by the government, it also announced the reopening of the sports complex for 'walking and running purposes', and canteen of Aravali Guest House and the India Coffee House for 'takeaway facility' PTI reported.  

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will allow entry of fourth year PhD and MSc and MCA students in its fifth and sixth phase of reopening, from Friday and February 1, PTI reported. "PhD students (fourth year only) from all science schools, special centres, other centres (both day scholars and hostlers) who require access to the laboratory are allowed to enter into the campus from Friday," read a circular issued by JNU registrar Pramod Kumar.

School principals in Delhi welcomed the government’s decision to reopen schools for Class 10 and 12 students, saying it will give them ample time and good atmosphere for preparing for board exams. "The decision to call students will help them to prepare for their upcoming board exams. Also, there are a number of steps that the school authorities will take to ensure that the students stay safe from the infection. The safest way for the students to commute to school would be via the private vehicles of their parents and guardians," PTI quoted Alka Kapur, Principal, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh.

The Delhi government has clarified that no COVID-19 symptomatic students will be allowed to enter the school premises and that they will also not be permitted to appear for the exams. The government agreed for the reopening of schools for Class 10, Class 12 in order to make sure that the students do not miss out on pre-board and practical exam preparation. Delhi has allowed schools to reopen from January 18.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the CTET notice regarding exam day guidelines for CTET exam which is scheduled to be conducted on January 31. The CTET 2021 notice includes all the important points to lower the risk of getting infected from coronavirus. Use of mask and gloves is mandatory at the CTET exam centre. CBSE already released the CTET admit card 2021 in online mode on the official website - ctet.nic.in. 

The health ministry has sought support of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to disseminate information on mass vaccination against coronavirus. The Centre has informed that the COVID-19 vaccination drive will begin on January 16. The UGC on Wednesday asked the universities help government raise awareness on COVID-19 vaccination plan.

Delhi Government has also put some of its school teachers on bird-flu duty. On January 12, it issued a list of officials, which included teachers, tasked with enforcing bird flu protocols in the state. Government school teachers, who were pressed into service in the fight against COVID-19 in 2020, find the new demand “insulting”.

A section of parents in Delhi on Wednesday welcomed the state government's decision to allow schools to reopen for students of Classes 10 and 12.  Others felt it is unsafe to resume classroom learning before students and staff are vaccinated. The Delhi Government has allowed schools to reopen from Monday, January 18, and issue detailed safety guidelines. However, attendance is completely optional.

The Mumbai civic body has allowed state, national and international educational boards to conduct exams physically as per their schedule in the city while following all COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Last month, citing fear of a second COVID-19 wave, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had deferred the reopening of schools and colleges till January 15.

Looking into grievances of open school students, the National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to take necessary action. NIOS students are demanding syllabus reduction, online exams and promotion based on internal assessment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 12 announced that the state government will not charge any fee from students appearing in the matric examination. Patnaik decided to waive fees for the annual examination, conducted by the Odisha’s Board of Secondary Education.The matriculation exam is scheduled to begin from May 3. 

Tamil Nadu school education and youth welfare minister K A Sengottaiyan on January 4 said a decision on reopening schools in the state shut since the COVID-19 enforced lockdown will be taken by the chief minister, K Palaniswami, on the basis of suggestions from parents and students. "On behalf of the school education department, suggestions will be obtained from parents, students and from Parents-Teachers Associations also about reopening of the schools in Tamil Nadu. They will be collected till this weekend," the minister said on January 4 .

Schools, colleges and university campuses opened partially in Kerala on January 4, after remaining closed for over 290 days. As per the government instructions, only 50 per cent of students were allowed in each class and a shift system was introduced in many institutions. Classes began for Classes 10 and 12 in public and private schools.

All schools in Karaikal re-opened on January 4 with adherence to COVID-19 safety norms. The schools remained shut for nine months due to the pandemic-induced lockdown. School had resumed for Classes 10-12 already on December 17. Full-day classes will be held from January 18. Attendance ranged between 80% and 100%, PTI reported.

Schools reopened for Classes 9 to 12 in Nashik district of Maharashtra on January 4 even as 62 teachers tested positive for COVID-19 before resuming duties. Out of 1,324 schools in rural Nashik and city limits, 846 started classes. As many as 1,21,579 students attended schools which were shut since March-end last year. 

Schools reopened for students of Classes 8, 9 and 11 in Arunachal Pradesh on January 4 after over nine months, adhering to standard operating procedures and COVID-19 protocols, officials told PTI. Residential schools and hostels, however, will remain closed for now. Classes for students of Classes 10 and 12 had already resumed from November 16.

Schools in Punjab reopened for students of Classes 5 to 12 on January 7. School authorities said they strictly adhered to coronavirus-related safety guidelines and teachers ensured children maintained social distancing. Some schools also provided masks to students.