Will Schools reopen on September 21? Centre gives this clarification on Unlock 4 guidelines

The Central Government has made it clear that it is not compulsory to re-open schools from 21st September 2020. The Unlock 4.0 guidelines, as released by Ministry of Home Affairs, allows schools to partially open for teaching and non-teaching staff as well as for voluntary attendance of students of classes 9 to 12. The final decision, however, to open or not to open the schools and allow students, even voluntarily, to go to school to seek guidance, rests solely with the State Governments.

In Unlock 4.0 guidelines, the Center has also directed that the final call to reopen schools from September 21 will be taken by the respective state governments. While many states are planning to open the schools this month, some are not ready to take any risks keeping the pandemic under consideration. Those states who are planning to reopen the schools from next week will have to follow all SOPs issued by the Ministry of Health.

States like Assam, Haryana and Delhi Government have allowed students of classes 9 to 12 to attend school to clarify doubts or seek guidance. But, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Uttarakhand have decided to keep the matter at rest till 30th September 2020.

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The SOPs released by the Health Minister has also forbidden sports periods, assemblies or opening of canteen on school premises. The colleges can also be functional for postgraduate and Ph.D. scholars, but will also remain closed for others.

Moreover, the Unlock 4.0 guidelines also suggest that schools can be opened after September 21, 2020 for teachers and non-teaching staff for special circumstances. However, regular classes will not begin now until September 30, 2020. The schools would be allowed to reopen with 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff.