The schools in Karnataka will reopen for classes 10 and 12 (SSLC and II PUC) from January 1, 2021. However, the state government has decided to resume the Vidyagama programme—classes in small groups on the school campus, for classes six to nine in the new year.
Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa who held consultations with the state COVID-19 technical advisory committee, Health and education department officials, along with the primary and secondary education minister S. Suresh Kumar on Saturday, gave his nod to reopen the schools, which were shut on March 24 this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The expert committee has recommended that schools be reopened for classes 10 and 12 from January 1, while adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOP) mandated by the government. For the lower classes - class six to nine, we will resume the Vidyagama programme in its revised version from the new year," said Suresh Kumar, who urged the private schools to adopt the Vidyagama model to help students in the rural areas with limited access to online learning.
The state government will be reviewing the situation after 15 days to decide on resuming the regular sessions for other lower classes too.
"Attendance in the schools and colleges has not been made compulsory and the students are free to continue to learn from home through online classes or YouTube channel. Students who want to attend school will have to get the parents' consent letter confirming the student has no COVID-19 symptoms. Only students who produce Covid-19 negative certificate will be allowed to reside in the government-run and residential schools," added Suresh Kumar.
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As per the SOP, the classrooms should be regularly disinfected and every classroom should have not more than 15 students and the classes should be conducted only for half a day. There will be no mid-day meals provided in the school, as the students will be given their monthly quota of the supplies to take home.
The state government, which had suspended the Vidyagama programme in October due to spurt in COVID-19 cases, has decided to resume it with some modifications, following pressure from educationists and child rights activists who fear the extended lockdown will further push school children into child labour, child marriages and loss of interest in academics.
The SOP also mandates the Vidyagama classes be held only twice a week and the students be taught in smaller groups within the school premises while maintaining social distancing norms.
Amid the growing demand by the private school managements to reopen regular classes for all the classes citing financial difficulties to run the institutions, the state government has decided to take a call on it only after reviewing the situation after a fortnight. The technical advisory committee has warned of a possible second wave of the pandemic to strike in the last week of December.
