Schools In Maharashtra For Classes 1-12 to Reopen From January 24: Varsha Gaikwad

Maharashtra School Reopening News: Earlier on January 8, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government had ordered the closure of schools in the wake of rising number of Covid cases in the state. The government had directed schools to suspend normal classes till February 15.

Mumbai: Schools in Maharashtra for classes 1 to 12 will reopen from January 24, state Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters today, Gaikwad asserted that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has approved a proposal to this effect sent to him by the school education department.

“Written instructions on this will be issued either today or tomorrow. Our SOPs are very strict and clear. We have given four days advance notice to the management of schools to undertake vaccination and sanitisation and for preparation of time-table. The timing and other necessary decisions will be taken by the local authorities, such as district collector or municipal commissioner based on the local situations,” Gaikwad added.

Earlier on January 8, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government had ordered the closure of schools in the wake of the rising number of Covid cases in the state. The government had directed schools to suspend normal classes till the cases are not stabilising. In Mumbai, the local civic body had announced the closure of schools for Classes 1 to 9 till January 31.

However, parents and other stakeholders had strongly opposed the move, saying it would adversely affect the students. They had urged the government to resume normal classes, following which Health Minister Rajesh Tope, a few days back, had hinted at reopening of educational institutions.

“Demands are rising from certain quarters for reopening of schools as children are suffering the education loss. We will consider it after 10-15 days as there is a low (rate of) infection among children. The chief minister will take the final call in this regard,” Tope had told reporters on January 16.

From 24 (January) we will be reopening schools for classes 1-12th with COVID protocols; CM has agreed to our proposal: Varsha Gaikwad, Maharashtra School Education Minister pic.twitter.com/Tji4l8Y0AF

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2022

Meanwhile, the new Covid cases in the financial capital seem to be stabilising. Earlier on Wednesday, the daily Covid-19 cases dropped to 6,032 with 10 per cent test positivity rate (TPR). But despite the drop, Maharashtra saw 43,697 cases with 20.66 per cent TPR. However, the COVID-19 recovery rate of the state stands at 94.4 per cent.

Currently, there are 23,93,704 people in-home quarantine and 3,200 people in institutional quarantine. On Tuesday, the state had reported 39,207 coronavirus cases and 53 fatalities. However, not a single case of the highly contagious Omicron variant was recorded that day.