Maharashtra schools may reopen next week; Proposal letter sent to CM

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government announced its decision to shut schools in the state until February 15 as the number of coronavirus cases started increasing ferociously from December amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant.

Closure of Maharashtra schools amid rising cases of the novel coronavirus has created a conflict between group of parents and students. Stating that schools can reopen with precautionary against COVID-19 spread, various parents and students have been demanding commencement of offline classes in the state. Maharashtra minister Varsha Gaikwad on January 19, 2022, informed that a proposal to reopen schools in the state from next week based on the local COVID-19 situations has been sent to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The proposal includes the opening of pre-primary schools, she said.

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government announced its decision to shut schools in the state until February 15 as the number of coronavirus cases started increasing ferociously from December amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant. Considering the alarming situation, the state decided to suspend offline classes as it could have raised health risks among students.

“After COVID cases rose, the government decided not to continue with the school (offline) sessions. But after discussion with the experts, it has been decided to start the sessions where the number of cases is low based on the local COVID-19 situation,” Gaikwad said.

The school education minister further added, “A proposal has been sent to the chief minister. It states that reopening of schools should be considered from Monday and all the power to do so should be given to the local authorities (municipal commissioners, district collectors, chief executive officers, education officers.”

However, there is another group of parents and students who are against school reopening fearing rising cases of the novel coronavirus.

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