Physical classes from Std 5 to 8 are likely to start in Covid-free villages from August 16, said school education minister Varsha Gaikwad on Friday. The announcement came after a Congress meet, catching education officials unaware. Schools across nine educational board divisions opened for classes 8 to 12 from July 15. Online schools across the state had started from June 15.
Sources said Gaikwad had met CM Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the reopening of schools from class 5 onwards and also about schools within municipal limits. A final decision is expected after another meeting with the CM next week.
Education officers said the worry is parents’ unwillingness to send children to classrooms. Data from schools that reopened in July show only 10% students attended offline classes across rural Maharashtra. In the Mumbai division, 24 schools in Thane district and 108 schools in Palghar districts reopened in July. Only 0.3% students in Thane and 2% in Palghar attended . In Mumbai district, no school has reopened since last year.
