Gujarat to reopen schools, colleges from January 11 with COVID protocols in place

Taking a brave and according to some a hasty decision, the Gujarat government on Wednesday announced that it has decided to reopen schools for classes 10th and 12th and colleges in the state from January 11, provided COVID-19 guidelines are followed. The education minister also announced that decision regarding other classes and primary schools will be taken later.

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, the education minister of Gujarat said, "In a meeting held today, headed by the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, it has been decided to reopen the schools for classes 10th and 12th and colleges in the state. Before that, I had lots of discussions with my department officials, educational experts, academicians and other stakeholders about going for the continuation of education. Today, the cabinet has decided that for these classes and colleges, education will be allowed to continue from January 11. For this, they shall strictly have to follow the Standard Operating Protocol (SOP prepared by the central government."

"The colleges and universities, the classes for postgraduate, medical and paramedical will also be reopened. The present system of providing online education will also have to be continued by the educational institutes in the state," added Chudasama.

The minister added that the decision taken on Wednesday applied to all the school's colleges in the state including the government, grant in aid, self-financed, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalay and all the schools under Social justice and empowerment. For the rest of the schools, the government will be deciding on it later.

He further said the attendance of the students will not be made mandatory, but the schools and colleges will have to have written consent from the parents of the students. For that, a form will be provided by the government to the parents. The principals of all the educational institutes will have to ensure that all the facilities to follow the SOP are adequate. The entire teaching staff and all students will have to be checked for their temperature through Thermal Guns.

Still, many academicians and a large section of the parents are still not convinced about COVID-19 guidelines being followed in schools.