Academic Year For Schools Likely To Commence In August Amid Continued Lockdown Over Coronavirus

The academia and education experts' have sought State government's intervention in clearing the ambiguity prevailing over commencement of the academic year, even as the lockdown stands extended in Karnataka up to April 30, 2020 in containing the spread of Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19, as per latest reports.

Amid continued state-wide lockdown over Coronavirus pandemic, the schools in Karnataka are not likely to start before August, and the academic year for 2020-21 in all likelihood will be postponed. The lockdown has halted the entire schooling process involving admissions, examinations, evaluations including procurements of books and uniforms.

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The academia, education experts' and school representatives have opined that the academic year will start only in the month of August, and have pressed the State government to declare the same as the commencing academic year 2020-21.

D Shashi Kumar, General Secretary Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka said, "The commencement of academic year for 2020-21 will be only after July. Because, even if the crisis is settled by June end, we would need another month to restart schools."

Until the threat of Coronavirus is contained and mitigated, some buffer time would be required to streamline the schooling process like arranging of textbooks, uniforms and other logistics.

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Mansoor Ali Khan, a board member of DPS institutions said, "...I suggest respective boards should issue uniform directions about the commencement of the academic year to avoid confusion."

In all this, several parents have expressed concern over the safety and health of their children, and are unwilling to send them to schools till August-September even if the academic year commences and schools are re-opened.