School reopening: Centre likely to issue advisory on resuming offline classes soon

NEW DELHI: Centre is likely to issue an advisory soon to reopen schools in the country as Covid-19 vaccination for children under 15-18 age group has picked up the pace. Union health minister Mansukh Mandviya said on Thursday that 95% of India’s eligible adult population has been administered the first dose of Covid vaccine while 74% are fully inoculated.

Schools, colleges have largely remained shut after being reopened for a brief period due to the third wave of Covid-19 and Omicron variant. Some states are mulling over reopening schools in February. Several other states have returned to online learning as the Class 10, 12 board exams 2022 are fast approaching.

The health minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, has asked the National Expert Group to suggest ways and plan to reopen school amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation, ANI reported.

According to the report, sources said, “Covid-19 has affected children of all age groups. However, the mortality rate and severity of the disease in children are negligible. Health experts believe it's high time children return to school.”

The Centre is planning to reopen schools in a staggered manner and under strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines. However, it will be upto the states to decide whether to reopen schools, colleges in the states or not.

नव वर्ष की ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि!

भारत ने अपनी 9⃣5⃣% से अधिक वयस्क आबादी को वैक्सीन की पहली डोज लगाने का कीर्तिमान हासिल कर लिया है।

PM @NarendraModi जी के नेतृत्व, स्वास्थ्य कर्मियों की मेहनत और जनभागीदारी से हम निरंतर इस अभियान में आगे बढ़ रहे हैं।#SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine pic.twitter.com/xRjjlQX06I

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) January 27, 2022

Meanwhile, states like Tamil Nadu and Haryana have decided to reopen schools from February 1. The states have also issued Covid-19 guidelines.

As many as 4,42,81,254 adolescents in the 15-18 years age group have been given the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The health ministry said yesterday that the daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day.

The first phase of Covid-19 vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group began on January 3, 2022.