Decision to 'Reopen Schools for Classes 10-12 Students' withdrawn in Tamil Nadu

After receiving a go-ahead from the central government, several states decided in favour of reopening schools from September 21.

The Tamil Nadu Government on Tuesday, i.e. September 29, 2020, withdrew its decision to reopen schools for students of Class 10 to Class 12 from October 1. However, last week, the state government granted permission stating that students of Classes 10 to 12 in Tamil Nadu can go to their schools on a voluntary basis by following the Standard Operating Procedure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Like other academic institutions of the country, schools in Tamil Nadu are closed since the month of March in view of the COVID-19 outbreak followed by the lockdown imposed in order to contain the virus. The state government now extended the lockdown until October 31 considering the increasing positive coronavirus cases.

The Central Government through the Unlock 4 guidelines issued at the end of August allowed the partial reopening of schools in non-containment zones, for students of Classes 9-12, on written consent by parents. Attendance was not made compulsory. After receiving a go-ahead from the central government, several states decided in favour of reopening schools from September 21. These included Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Tamil Nadu education minister K A Sengottaiyan in mid-September stated that there will be no shift-based classes when schools reopen in the state, hinting that there will be no partial reopening. The minister also stated, "All classes will start functioning simultaneously when schools reopen in the state. There will not be classes in a shift, as all the schools have adequate infrastructure." 

However, on September 24, the Tamil Nadu Government released an order allowing students studying in Classes 10 to 12 in government, government-aided and private schools to visit schools from October 1. However, after the recent announcement by Chief Minister Palaniswami, schools in the state will continue to remain shut.

Read More:

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• Schools in Tamil Nadu to partially reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from October 1
• Schools in Bihar to partially reopen from September 28 for Classes 9 to 12: State Education Department
• Schools in Meghayala partially reopens today after six months
• Schools in Punjab to open from today on voluntary basis for Classes 9 to 12