Punjab schools, colleges to reopen on Sept 8; deputy commissioners may shut school in flood-hit areas

Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains has announced that all schools in the state will reopen tomorrow, September 8. However, regular classes for students will begin on September 9. The state government has also issued key guidelines for the reopening of educational institutions.

After the worst flood disaster in decades, the state declared a holiday from August 27 to 30. Later, it extended the school closure till September 3.

Today, the state education minister Bains announced that the government, private, and aided schools, colleges, and universities in the state will reopen as usual from tomorrow. However, he has instructed the district’s deputy commissioner to take a final decision on closing schools and colleges in areas affected by floods.

The minister instructed the management of private schools to ensure that the school buildings, classrooms, and infrastructure are completely safe for students and teachers.

On September 8, all government schools in the state will remain closed for students. Teachers will be present in the schools, and cleaning activities will be carried out with the assistance of S.M.C., panchayats, municipal councils, and corporations.

Teachers will thoroughly inspect school buildings. If any kind of issue or defect is found, it must be immediately reported to the district's Deputy Commissioner and the Engineering Department, he said.

“From September 9, all government schools will reopen as usual,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer on Sunday visited flood-affected frontier villages and posts in Punjab's Ferozepur district to take stock of the situation and the ongoing relief measures, according to an official statement.