Maharashtra School Reopening: 35% Schools Reopen With Only 5% Attendance on Day-1

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Maharashtra Schools: After 8 months of imposed shut-down of schools and colleges due to the widespread COVID-19, schools were allowed to reopen for the first time on November 23, 2020. In which, out of the total enrolled students in Maharashtra, only 5% attendance was recorded in the schools on day-1.

The State Education Department had permitted the schools to reopen for students from class 9 to 12, with strict abidance by the protocols and regulations of COVID-19. One of the conditions is attendance is, however, not compulsory.

Thane, Panvel, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai had already declared that schools in their areas shall remain shut until the end of this year due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases.

Read: Many States in Dilemma to Take Decision On Schools Reopening Due to COVID 19 Spread

Commissioner of Education of Maharashtra, Vishal Solanki while conversing with the press stated that in terms of percentage, 35% of the total junior colleges and schools were permitted to reopen on November 23 for the first time after the imposed lockdown.

He further added, in factual figures, 9,127 junior colleges and schools out of the total 25,866, reopened on the day, and out of the total number of students from class 9 to 12 i.e. 59,27,456, only 2,99,193 students (5%) attended the schools and colleges in various districts of the state.

The officials from various institutions informed that the students were thermally screened before entering, and their oxygens levels were also checked. The classes were fully sanitized and the seating arrangement for students was made in a way considering social distancing.

Read: Mumbai Schools Will be Closed for This Year, might reopen for other parts in Maharashtra from Monday

While the collector of Palgarh, Manik Gursal also said that a decision has been made to reopen the schools for classes 9 and 10 in villages with no coronavirus positive cases and for those places where the population is higher than 5,000.

The officials had recently attended a meeting led by Gursal on Monday where it was decided that the schools will not reopen in areas with containment zones and areas that have recently experienced the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Officials informed that a separate decision will be made regarding the residential ashram schools and further reopening guidelines.

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