Schools In Maharashtra To Reopen From October 4, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad Announces

Maharashtra Schools Reopening News: Schools across Maharashtra will be resuming on October 4, 2021 following detailed discussion and deliberations involving all stakeholders, Minister for School Education Varsha Gaikwad informed today.

As per the decision, physical classes for students of standard 5th to 12th in rural areas, and standards 8th to 12th in urban areas will restart on October 4, 2021, keeping in sync with all the SOPs for schools reopening across Maharashtra.

Informing about the decision, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad in a Twitter post said, "Based on detailed deliberations with the pediatric task force, all stakeholders & guidance of @CMOMaharashtra, SOPs for schools reopening have been further strengthened. Schools can restart physical classes for Std 5-12th in rural areas & Std 8-12th in urban areas from October 4."

Based on detailed deliberations with the paediatric task force, all stakeholders & guidance of @CMOMaharashtra,SOPs for school reopenings have been further strengthened. Schools can restart physical classes for Std 5-12th in rural areas & Std 8-12th in urban areas from October 4 pic.twitter.com/KWKocMMvep

— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) September 24, 2021

"Though schools will reopen in the entire state, there is no compulsion for students to attend physical classes. Consent of parents will be necessary if they want to attend. Our students are our future. Their health, wellbeing & continued education is our responsibility. Let us all work together to ensure this," the minister added.

SOPs For Reopening Schools

Speaking about the health and risk measures taken in the wake of reopening schools across Maharashtra, Varsha Gaikwad said, earlier on August 10, detailed SOPs were released, that included compulsory vaccination of teachers/staff keeping in mind the safety of the staff & students and formation of a task force headed by the collector/commissioner to monitor the resumption and safe operations of schools.

School-based health clinics to be set up with the help of the nearest public healthcare facility; schools to conduct regular #COVID19 temperature checks. Students to be encouraged to walk to school. A safe transport plan for all students to be formulated, etc. are some of the additional SOPs added to the list, the minister said.

Teachers Role Significant

Stressing on the role of teachers in acclimatising students to the physical school environment, the School Education Minister said, "A teacher's role in helping the child transition #BacktoSchool will be the most. It is important to focus on bringing back the normalcy in the classroom environment again. Teachers to take special notice of mental health of a child."

The Minister also suggested that classwork should be gradually increased with the first couple of weeks used to acclimatise students, staff to the school environment. Homework assignments can be given online wherever possible to minimise physical contact, Gaikwad added.