Several states in the country had reopened schools for physical classes maintaining the Covid-19 protocols between February and March this year after a gap of nearly eleven months.

The schools had shut down again after the country was badly hit by the outbreak and rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases from April.

Schools again started teaching students only through the online mode.

Now that the numbers of Covid-19 cases have started declining in many states, many students and parents are raising the question on whether the offline classes could be resumed. The closure of schools has affected a large section of students particularly those who cannot afford smart devices for attending the online classes.

Though the Centre is yet to take a decision in regard to reopening of schools, some states are keen to resume the offline classes and announced the possibility of starting on campus teaching from July.

But even as the figures are going down, many other states have made it clear that their main focus was the safety of students and a decision on reopening the campuses for offline classes will be taken only after thoroughly examining the Covid-19 situation.

With the figures declining, the question on whether the schools were ready to reopen the campuses or not have also started coming up in social media.

But government agencies have stressed the need to be cautious before taking any move towards reopening the schools.    

Dr. V K Paul, member (health)  NITI Ayog said the decision to reopen schools has to be taken cautiously amid the ongoing “unpredictable situation.” “School is a crowd, a medium or large gathering, which gives an opportunity for virus to infect. So we should take the risk only when we are rather better protected, virus is suppressed and we are able to sit at a distance. But it is not easy to take this decision to open schools when an unpredictable situation is prevalent.” 

“Until it (the spread of the virus) is predictable it is hard to reopen,” he had said.

All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria has said, “I personally feel that we should aggressively work on opening schools because it has really affected the young generation in terms of knowledge and especially the marginalized who can’t go for online classes.”   

The list of states with their latest school reopening status follows

Bihar: To reopen for in person classes in phases from July if there is no further surge in Covid19 cases

Uttar Pradesh: On campus teaching likely to resume for Classes I to VIII. Government is yet to decide on resuming offline classes for Classes IX to XII.

Telengana: Schools are to reopen from July 1, the state government had earlier announced. But deliberations are still going on and the decision is yet to be finalized, the government has recently said.

Maharashtra:  Schools in some parts of the state are expected to resume in July. Though there is no official announcement. The government is examining whether physical classes can start in districts where the number of Covid-19 cases is negligible.

Karnataka: The state government has not yet taken any decision on reopening of schools. The decision will be taken after re-evaluation of Covid-19 situation. The government had earlier constituted a high-level committee “to analyse, advise and control Covid-19 third wave.” The committee has recommended the reopening of schools in a staggered manner and suggested resuming on campus teaching for senior classes first.  

Gujarat: Online classes to continue. State government is likely to take a decision regarding resuming offline classes soon.

Rajasthan: Online mode of teaching will continue, the  state government recently said.

Jharkhand: State government is expected to announce shortly when physical classes will start.  

Chattisgarh: Schools will remain closed till the time Covid-19 situation is under control, the government has said.   

West Bengal: Online classes in progress. No decision taken on resuming physical classes.

Tamil Nadu: State government keeping a watch on the Covid-19 relaxations. Decision on reopening of schools will be taken accordingly.

Andhra Pradesh: Summer vacation to continue till June 30. Offline classes will resume once the Covid-19 situation is under control, according to the state government.

Kerala: Online classes to continue. 

Madhya Pradesh: A collective decision regarding reopening of schools is yet to be taken, the state government has said.

Haryana: All schools are to remain closed for summer vacation till June 30.Considering the present Covid-19 situation the state government wants to continue online teaching.   

Punjab: State government yet to take a decision. 

Goa: Online teaching to continue, the government has said.

Delhi: Schools in Delhi are not to open for physical classes anytime soon, the government has said.   

Himachal Pradesh: Schools will reopen in a phased manner but no decision has been taken when physical classes will start.

Uttarakhand: State government is expected to arrive at a decision regarding reopening schools within a week.      

Manipur: Online classes are on. Government sought public opinion regarding school reopening.

Tripura: Online classes to continue till further notice. 

Assam: Online classes to continue after summer vacation that ended on June 14, the state government has said. 

Nagaland: Schools to continue online teaching till further notice, according to a government notification issued in May end.  

Meghalaya: Government has no plan to reopen schools in the state. Online classes will continue, the government has said.  

Mizoram: Schools to remain shut till further notice according to a government notification at the end of May.

Arunachal Pradesh: The state government is yet to decide when they will open schools.

Odisha: Online teaching to continue till July 31, according to government sources.

Jammu and Kashmir: All schools will remain shut till June 30. The date of reopening the schools is to be announced shortly.

Also read: Study released by Azim Premji University on ‘Loss of Learning during the Pandemic’