Deputy chief minister of Delhi, Shri Manish Sisodia, has announced that Delhi schools can reopen from September 1 onwards. All the educational institutions have remained close since the wake of the second covid wave in April.
The opening of educational institutions applies to both governmental and private institutes such as schools, colleges, universities and coaching centres. However, only students from classes 9-12 come under this category. No decision has been taken for the junior classes.
The Deputy chief minister clarified that after carefully examining the result of reopening schools, a decision would be taken for the junior classes. Delhi government had previously invited suggestions from parents and students in Delhi, on the opening of schools and colleges.
A meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) was scheduled today. It was conducted to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital. Sources had indicated that it would clear the government’s view on the reopening of educational institutes.
The panel reviewing the situation has given its inputs by advocating the reopening of schools in Delhi in a phased manner. The capital, as well as maximum states in India, have seen considerable improvement in the pandemic. The positivity rate has significantly dropped in Delhi.
Looking at today’s count, the cumulative total is 14,37,595 and the active tally has reached 413. Whereas, the case positivity rate stands at 0.06%. It is slightly increased from yesterday, as it was 0.05% earlier.
Why Should Schools Be Reopened?
Addressing the issue of mental well being, UNICEF suggests, “This should not go on. Schools should be the last to close and the first to reopen. The losses that children and young people will incur from not being in school may never be recouped.
From learning loss, mental distress, exposure to violence and abuse, to missed school-based meals and vaccinations or reduced development of social skills, the consequences for children will be felt in their academic achievement and societal engagement as well as physical and mental health.
The most affected are often children in low-resource settings who do not have access to remote learning tools, and the youngest children who are at key developmental stages. That’s why reopening schools for in-person learning cannot wait. It cannot wait for cases to go to zero.”
Pandemic has definitely taken a toll on the mental health of people, be it children or adults.
Delhi Schools Can Reopen: Manish Sisodia
Manish Sisodia who is the education minister of Delhi states, “About 70 per cent of people wanted schools to reopen, according to a Delhi government survey. We are still working on the protocols. It will be a blended mode of online and in-person classes.”
He adds, “Given that Covid cases have come down and the positivity rate is just 0.1 per cent, we feel we can open schools now. Almost 98 per cent of staff in Delhi schools have had at least one dose.
Colleges and coaching institutes for the senior school students will also be allowed to reopen from September 1.”
Sisodia says, “Thousands of parents gave us feedback that schools should be opened. In the last 1 month, in all the schools in Delhi, most of the teachers have been given the first dose of the vaccine.
Both online and offline classes will run simultaneously in schools. No child will be pressured to come to school without the consent of the parents.
Education also has to be brought back on track. School and colleges should be opened in Delhi like the economy.”
Since many states have reopened schools for class 6th to 12th students, Delhi also wants to reopen the schools based on the feedbacks and feasible situation.