Schools in Pune Reopen After Eight Months; Attendance at 30 per cent in Rural Areas, Check Details Here

Maharashtra government reopened the schools and colleges in the rural areas of Pune for classes IX to XII. This is the first time that the schools and colleges have reopened since the coronavirus outbreak started in March.

The officials of the region have informed that the attendance of students was around 30 per cent for the schools and colleges which have been opened.

On the other hand, educational institutions in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic areas will remain shut till December 13 and November 30 respectively.

Zilla Parishad Education Officer Ganpat More said there were over 1,200 schools and colleges in the district's rural areas and some 30-35 were expected to open on Monday.

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"I toured some schools and found the attendance to be in the range of 30 per cent. I spoke to parents who were apprehensive about the safety of their children due to the outbreak. All these schools are adhering to COVID-19 norms. Teachers and other staff are being tested for the infection as well," said Zilla Parishad Education Officer Ganpat More.

Further, over 4,700 teachers had been tested for COVID-19, and only 13 reports returned positive, though these too are asymptomatic.

"On arrival, all students were thermally screened, their oxygen levels were checked, and classrooms were deep sanitized. We also took care of social distancing in the seating arrangements," said Sopan Kanchan, secretary, Mahatma Gandhi Sarvoday Sangh Trust, which runs a school in Urali Kanchan.

A T Kalamkar, principal of V S Satav High School and Junior College in Wagholi area said 56 students, out of 350 from class XII, and 75 students, out of 650 from class X, attended on Monday.

"The tests of all 95 teachers at our institution returned negative," he added.

While students expressed their excitement for attending classes physically after eight months, parents.The school authorities taking aggressive steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

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