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 were discussions with all the stakeholders and a final decision about the re-opening will be taken by the chief minister soon,” he said.
About colleges reopening for physical classes, the deputy CM said talks are going on about allowing fully vaccinated students and staff to begin offline classes in limited numbers following all Covid 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, added Pawar.
Earlier, state education minister Varsha Gaikwad had announced that classes 8 to 12 in schools in Covid-free urban areas would reopen from August 17. In rural areas, those classes had started earlier, and they were allowed to re-open physical teaching for classes 5 to 8. However, the task force had opposed the decision and the order is currently on hold.
On Thursday, state health minister Rajesh Tope had said there were discussions about the re-opening of schools and a decision was expected soon.
