Maharashtra: Schools to re-open in phases, no online courses for classes I and II

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that schools in areas that are not declared to be red containment zones which are not infected with COVID-19 can be re-opened, keeping in mind certain precautions and the need for safety measures. 

Education should not be stopped due to the coronavirus, he said.

Thackeray said that schools should be started in rural and non-rural areas where the virus is not prevalent, adding that the digital method should be implemented as a pilot project as soon as possible. In a meeting held this afternoon in the presence of School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, the Chief Minister reiterated that digital education should start where schools are not started. Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, Additional Chief Secretary of School Education Vandana Krishna, Secretary of Higher Education Sourav Vijay were also present.

Thackeray also said that the health of the students must be taken care of wherever schools are starting.

To plan how schools can be re-opened, a meeting of the school management committees will be held incorporating discussions with the Covid Prevention Committees in villages as well as with local officials. This will be to make sure that everything—including facilities for sanitation, disinfection and water supply—is taken care of in the schools. The CM also advised for regular parent-teacher meetings. 

Arrangements will also be made to facilitate education for children with no access to digital facilities such as Google classrooms, webinars, creation of e-educational materials, cybersecurity or the use of mobile apps.

The planning

For schools and colleges that are not in the red zones, sessions for classes IX, X and XII can begin from July. For classes III, IV and V, sessions can begin from August 6; for classes I and II, they will start from September onwards with the approval of the school management committee.

Classes for students going to the first year of college will begin once the results for Class X are out next month. In red zones, classes will not be allowed to start and in such areas, with the help of Tata Sky and Jio, the government will begin pilot projects in learning and will monitor the efficacy of the same, said the CM. The Chief Minister said that he would immediately talk to Information Minister Prakash Javadekar to make television and radio as also available as mediums of education.

No online classes for class I and II

After considering parents' opinions about online classes for younger children, the CM said that there will be no online classes for such small kids. However, for children in classes III, IV, and V, online and digital education will be for one hour daily; for the children of higher classes, it will be for two hours daily.

Plans for cyclone-hit schools of Maharashtra's Konkan region

The Chief Minister said that the schools which have been damaged due to the cyclone in Konkan will be given funds for immediate repairs. The education department has demanded a fund of Rs 28 crore. 

Varsha Gaikwad said that the education will be continued by considering various options such as placing fewer children in the classroom, resolving the children's doubts by the teachers through WhatsApp groups, one day school, even-odd options.