Maharashtra Minister of School Education and Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad had recommended reopening physical classes in Covid-free zones from July 12. As schools opened for classes 8-12, as many as 613 students have tested positive for Covid-19 in Maharashtra’s Solapur.

This has also raised concerns over the plausible lack of adherence to Covid-19 protocols for the safe opening of schools and colleges. 

The Minister had also mandated all teachers and staff members to be vaccinated before resuming physical classes to limit the spread of infection.

However, considering the spike in cases among children, whether or not enough precautions were taken before the resumption of physical classes is unknown. 

The state being one of the most affected by the first as well as the second wave of the pandemic made it impossible for the schools to reopen. Schools in Maharashtra have been shut since March 2020. 

Maharashtra, which was the first to be hit by the Chinese virus’s second wave, continues to record more than 6000 new cases. The state on Thursday recorded 7242 new Covid-19 cases and 190 fatalities, a slight jump from Wednesday. 

Meanwhils, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “The Covid-19 pandemic has ensured that the world goes through an education crisis as millions of children remain out of school.”

Guterres said, “We are in the middle of an education crisis. 156 million students are still affected by school closures due to Covid 19, and 25 million may never return. An effective pandemic recovery requires investment in teachers, digital learning, and systems fit for the future.”

We are in the middle of an education crisis.

156 million students are still affected by school closures due to #COVID19, and 25 million may never return.

An effective pandemic recovery requires investment in teachers, digital learning, and systems fit for the future. pic.twitter.com/Rq64BespMC

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 1, 2021

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