Schools, Pre-University colleges in Karnataka not to reopen in December: Chief Minister

All education experts, health department and experts have opined that a discussion about opening schools and pre-university colleges should be held by December end.. this is not the time as COVID cases may rise and may affect the students, Mr Yediyurappa said

The Karnataka Government has announced that it has decided not to reopen schools and pre-university colleges in the state in December due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. 
"All education experts, health department and experts have opined that a discussion about opening schools and pre-university colleges should be held by December end.. this is not the time as COVID cases may rise and may affect the students," Mr Yediyurappa said. The schools have remained closed since March when the national lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19. The meeting, he told reporters later, unanimously it was decided to meet again by December end to decide on the future course of action and not to reopen schools and pre-university colleges until then.

The Chief Minister said that in the degree and engineering colleges that were reopened on November 17, in them not even five per cent of students are attending the class. The meeting was attended by Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar; officials of education, health, rural development and transport departments, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, and experts. Health Minister K Sudhakar attended the meeting online. 

Mr Kumar further said that the decision taken by the Chief Minister has taken the decision as ultimately saving lives was more important. Even though schools and pre-University colleges will not open, the classes through public broadcaster- "Samveda", and other means like online will continue. He said there were two opinions on the matter in the state -- one not to open schools and the other that if it was not done, students in rural areas would face difficulties and their plight should be taken care of.

The department had held consultations with all stakeholders in this regard after which it was decided to hold a meeting under the CM's leadership and also seek the health department's advice, Mr Kumar said. The Health Minister informed the meeting that the Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19, comprising about 14 medical experts, had recommended not to reopen schools and PU colleges in December.

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