The Karnataka government has decided to reopen schools and resume offline classes for students of grade 6 to 8 from September 6.
A high-level meeting of chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday deliberated on resuming the offline classes for students of grade 6 to 8 across all the government, aided and unaided schools in the state. However, the schools located in the talukas with high COVID-19 case positivity rate (more than 2 per cent), or share their border with Kerala, have been barred from reopening schools. On August 23, the physical classes were started for grade 9 to 12 in the taluks with test positivity rate of less than 2 per cent. A decision on reopening the primary classes will be taken after reviewing the COVID situation.
The schools have been instructed to conduct physical classes in batches of not more than 20 students in a classroom. The offline classes are to be held only for five days (Monday to Friday) in a week. The classes are to be conducted in two different shifts—10am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm or on alternate days. However, no classes should be conducted on Saturdays, when the schools are required to compulsorily sanitise the school premises.
The schools have been issued directions to strictly adhere to the SOPs issued by the technical advisory committee. The COVID-19 protocol for the schools has made it mandatory for parents to submit the consent letter and a declaration that their ward is free from known COVID symptoms before the student can attend offline classes. The students must carry food and water from home.
The schools have been asked to continue providing online classes for students who choose not to attend the physical classes.
