PUNE: The state Covid-19 task force has advised against reopening of schools for in-person classes before Diwali, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said in Pune on Friday.
“There are discussions with all the stakeholders and a final decision about the re-opening will be taken by the chief minister soon,” Pawar said.
About colleges reopening for physical classes, the deputy chief minister said talks are going on about allowing fully vaccinated students and staff to begin offline classes in limited numbers following all Covid-19 protocols. “A final decision about this too will be taken by the chief minister,” he said.
Parents and teachers, especially in districts with a low weekly positivity rate or in those registering hardly any cases, wanted children to attend in-person classes in schools, Pawar added.
Earlier, state education minister Varsha Gaikwad had announced that schools in both rural and urban areas will reopen on August 17 with offline classes commencing in rural areas for students from Std V-VIII, while those in cities would open for students from Stds VIII to XII following Covid-19 protocols.
However, the task force had opposed the decision and the order is currently on hold.
On Thursday, state health minister Rajesh Tope had said that there were discussions about the re-opening of schools and a decision was expected soon.
