Why not reopen schools after Dec, HC asks govt

MADURAI: Considering the pandemic, it was perhaps better to reopen schools only after December, opined the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday. The bench made the observation while hearing a plea seeking to quash the Government Order on resuming Classes 9 to 12 from November 16.

The PIL filed by Ramprasad of Uthamapalayam in Theni, which came up for hearing before a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and B Pugalendhi, pointed out that there still was no vaccine available for the coronavirus infection, which has claimed more than 11,000 lives in the State so far.

However, despite the risks involved, the State decided to reopen schools, colleges and universities from November 16. This posed the risk of COVID spreading fast among students hailing from various districts of Tamil Nadu and also from other states.

Also, several schools and colleges were converted as COVID Care Centres where the infected persons are undergoing treatment, the PIL added. Citing these, the petitioner sought direction from the bench to quash the GO on reopening educational institutions.

During the hearing, the State government counsel submitted that the government has been consulting parents on whether to reopen, and added that many of them were not in agreement on reopening schools and colleges on November 16.

After the hearing, the bench opined that the reopening of educational institutions may be postponed till after December due to the pandemic. The case was adjourned to November 20 for further hearing.