Even as pressure mounts on Delhi to reopen schools for junior classes, L-G says decision will only be taken after the festive season

A decision regarding reopening of schools for Classes VI to VIII in Delhi will be taken after the festival season, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said on Wednesday following a DDMA meeting here. While the L-G did not mention the particular month for a decision on reopening schools for junior classes, sources present at the meeting said it could happen "post Diwali".

"As suggested by the experts, it was decided to consider opening middle school Classes VI to VIII, after the festive season," Baijal, who chaired the meeting, said in a tweet.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting was attended by Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, Niti Ayog member VK Paul, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, ICMR DG Balram Bhargava and other senior officials of departments concerned.

"Even as the experts expressed satisfaction at the prevailing situation and efforts being undertaken by departments and agencies concerned, it was strongly reiterated that guards in terms of COVID-appropriate behaviour and its enforcement cannot be let down, especially in light of the forthcoming festive season," a source said.

Several private schools have been demanding that the schools reopen now for junior classes. A group of parents and school teachers had last week staged a protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence demanding commencing physical classes for primary and middle school students.

"Disappointing decision once again by the government. It has been a month since the schools reopened for senior classes and all has been well thankfully so what is the harm in calling other classes as well. The attendance has been less in private schools not because of COVID concerns but because not all schools are providing transport," said RC Jain, president, Delhi Schools Association.

However, Delhi Parents Association's president Aparajita Gautam hailed the government's decision. "There have already been predictions about a possible third wave in October-November. Also the festival rush can contribute to a rise in cases so it's wise to take an informed decision after the festivals," Gautam said.

Following a marked improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the national capital, the Delhi government had last month announced that schools for Classes IX to XII, colleges and coaching institutions would reopen from September 1. The Delhi government had clarified that no student would be forced to attend physical classes and the consent of parents would be mandatory.

Allowing only 50 per cent students per classroom, mandatory thermal screening, staggered lunch breaks, alternate seating arrangement and avoiding routine guest visits were among the guidelines announced by the DDMA for reopening of schools and colleges from September 1.

The DDMA had said students, teachers and non-teaching staff living in COVID containment zones would not be allowed to come to schools and colleges. Schools in the national capital were ordered shut last year in March ahead of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

While several states started partial reopening of schools in October last year, the Delhi government allowed physical classes only for Classes IX-XII in January this year, which were again suspended following the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases during the aggressive second wave.

Government employees, teachers and bus drivers should be mandatorily vaccinated against COVID as they interact with multiple people on a daily basis, said experts at a DDMA meeting held here on Wednesday.

At the meeting, it was also decided to undertake a "targeted" and "intensified" vaccination drive through camps and mobile vans with ambulances to facilitate the elderly, differently abled, indisposed and domestic helps, for inoculation.

Experts said government servants, teachers and staff in schools and service providers like auto/taxi and bus drivers and delivery personnel should be mandatorily vaccinated against the virus, according to official sources. 

The total number of vaccine doses administered in Delhi had crossed the one crore-mark on July 31. The national capital recorded 41 coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 0.06 per cent and zero fatality due to the infection on Wednesday, according to a health bulletin issued by the city government. Delhi has recorded only five fatalities due to the infection in September so far. There are currently 392 active COVID-19 cases in Delhi, up from 373 on Tuesday.

Amid apprehensions of a third COVID-19 wave in Delhi, experts have suggested that people avoid mass gatherings and scale down festivities.