Maharashtra schools to reopen for primary classes from December 1: Varsha Gaikwad

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra Cabinet has allowed reopening of schools for Classes 1 to 4 in rural areas and 1 to 7 in urban areas in the state from December 1, education minister Varsha Gaikwad announced on social media.

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“After discussing with the Chief Minister, the cabinet and paediatric task force, the state cabinet has decided to re-open schools from Std 1st to 4th in rural areas and Std 1st to 7th in urban areas from the 1st of December. We are committed to the safe resumption of schools,” Gaikwad said in a social media post.

After discussing with the Chief Minister, the cabinet and paediatric task force, the state cabinet has decided to re-open schools from Std 1st to 4th in rural areas and Std 1st to 7th in urban areas from the 1st of December. We are committed to safe resumption of schools.

— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) November 25, 2021

The state resumed physical classes for Classes 5 to 12 on October 4 after being closed for over 18 months due to the pandemic situation. However, the education minister said that a decision on reopening of schools for Classes 1 to 5 will be taken after a cabinet meeting.

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Last month, Gaikwad had announced that physical classes will resume in schools across the state and the government also issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for it.

According to the Maharashtra government, physical classes have started for classes 5 to 12 in rural areas and for classes 8 to 12 in urban areas of the state. But, the physical classes have not yet been resumed for classes 1 to 4 in rural areas and for classes 1 to 7 in urban areas.

On October 20, state colleges and universities also resumed offline classes which had been stopped for over one-and-a-half years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said Delhi schools, colleges, educational institutes will reopen from November 29. Schools and colleges in the national capital were closed on November 13 after the Supreme Court termed the air pollution in Delhi an "emergency" situation.