Maharashtra Government Mulling to Reopen Schools Post-Diwali

Maharashtra Cabinet held a meeting on October 7, considering the reopening of schools in November after Diwali instead of October 15. 

The MHA, Government of India, had released new guidelines for Unlock 5 on October 5. Accordingly, 

• Educational institutes can be reopened on or after October 15 depending upon the pandemic condition of the respective state. 
• The schools can conduct face to face classes from October 15, depending upon the pandemic situation of the respective state.
• Moreover, higher educational institutes are also given permission to grant laboratory accessibility to doctoral candidates.
• The principals or HODs of the institute will be responsible for issuing written grants to respective students.
• Students must produce valid reasons for visiting higher educational institutes.

Read: Unlock 5.0: States to Decide on Reopening of Schools after October 15

Maharashtra Govt to Analyse Situation Before Reopening Schools

Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Maharashtra, Mr. Uday Samant declared on October 6, 2020, that reopening schools in Maharashtra from October 15 cannot be exercised due to the present pandemic condition of the state. 

The state will be opening its school only after assessing the situation thoroughly, the minister added. 

In accordance with this, the state cabinet held a meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Due to the pandemic crisis still prevailing in the state of Maharashtra, the state Cabinet decided not to open the same on or after October 15. 

This year, the nation will celebrate Diwali in mid-November. The schools across Maharashtra might be open only after that.

Read: Maharashtra Schools and Colleges to remain shut till October 31

Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Uddhav Thackeray instructed the state education department to review the status of the ongoing online education system across the state.

The Government of Maharashtra is also considering the probability of online classes due to the pandemic.

The state has also directed its schools not to collect any development fees as there were no physical classes conducted in the recent past months.

Read: Attendance not to be made Obligatory Amid COVID-19, Says Health Minister

Not only schools, but the state is also emphasizing the current condition of the colleges too. 

While being present at the review meeting of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) final year program, the state education minister Mr. Samant also laid down the regulations of the final year examinations. 

The examination will be facilitated via a blended method. Nearly two and a half lakhs students are going to be appearing in the examination among that, two lakhs will be giving the examination via online mode, and 50,000 via offline. 

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