Decision on Maharashtra school reopening tomorrow; parents divided over offline classes

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra government will take a decision on reopening schools, colleges in the state tomorrow, January 20, in a review meeting. Parents are divided with some advocating caution due to the Covid-19 third wave and rise in Omicron cases in India, while another section of parents insist on resuming offline classes as the closure of schools is affecting the education of students.

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Recently, an MLC from Aurangabad has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requesting him to rethink the closure of schools and colleges, which he claimed is forcing boys to work in fields while girls are being married off at an early age by their parents.

He further urged the chief minister to resume offline classes with 50% capacity. The state government decided to shut schools, colleges till February 15, 2022, due to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country. However, after a section of parents filed a petition to resume physical classes and the recent letter by the MLC, the government will now take a call on Maharashtra school reopening.

Some demand Maharashtra school reopening as the Maharashtra Class 10, 12 exams is scheduled to be held from March 15. The Maharashtra SSC exam will start from March 15 and will conclude on April 4, 2022. Whereas, the Maharashtra HSC board exam will start from March 4 and conclude on March 30, 2022. Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education released the HSC and SSC time table 2021-22 on the official website, mahahsscboard.in.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had earlier said that the demand for reopening of schools will be considered after the next 10-15 days as there is a low incidence of coronavirus infection in children and as students are suffering education loss.