PUNE: The state education department has planned to reopen schools for classes from Std I to IV in rural areas after the Diwali vacations.
Education commissioner Vishal Solanki told TOI that the order will be soon issued regarding the reopening of the schools in the third phase in the primary section. Rural schools are currently open for students from Std V onwards while in urban areas, physical classes from Std VIII onwards have started.
School education minister Varsha Gaikwad had also hinted at the reopening for primary section two weeks ago. However, an order from the state government is awaited. The minister, however, has not mentioned reopening of schools for primary classes in urban areas as of now.
Solanki said, “The schools will not be reopened now; however, the decision to reopen will be taken after Diwali. Schools and the primary education officers across the state will be notified.”
School teachers and principals in the rural areas have started to experience a rise in the attendance since the past two to three weeks for higher classes from standards VIII to XII ,while in the secondary section for Stds V to VIII, the attendance was nearly 75%.
Zilla parishad teacher from Velhe, Dhananjay Pujari, said, “We were told to submit a survey regarding the reopening of the primary section. We have been speaking to the parents of our students and most of them had a positive response which we are conveying to the department.”
Another school teacher from Wagholi zilla parishad school, Nana Kate, said, “We have successfully conducted senior classes for the past three months and have faced no issues. We are confident that the primary section will also be reopened successfully and parents will send their wards with confidence.”
