UP schools for classes 6 to 8 to reopen from Feb 10

LUCKNOW : Schools in UP for classes 6 to 8 will reopen from February 10 and for classes 1 to 5 from March 1, after a closure of 11 months due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday took a decision to this effect to ensure that the academic session does not get derailed. He said schools may resume normal classroom teaching form February 10, strictly in adherence to the Covid protocol with all the precautionary measures in place. Additional chief secretary, basic education, Renuka Kumar issued an order regarding the reopening of schools. On Tuesday, the CM had asked education department officials to consider reopening schools from class 6 onwards within the next 10 days. He ordered a fresh assessment of the Covid situation so that a decision on allowing schools to resume offline classes could be taken in accordance with guidelines of the union government.

More than 1.83 crore students are enrolled in government primary and upper primary schools that remained closed since March last year due to the pandemic. However, educational institutions were running online

When kids return to schools, they will see many changes, including improved infrastructure YOGI ADITYANATH, CM

classes for students.

The chief minister said when kids return to schools after 11 months, they will see many changes, including improved infrastructure, as several government schools have undergone a sea change under the Kayakalp scheme. Government schools kids will now have access to smart classes, library facilities, etc. Out of 1,642 schools in Lucknow, 100 have been refurbished.

The Unaided Private Schools Association, UP, expressed pleasure over the decision as they had recently urged the state government to allow reopening of schools for classes 6 to 8, followed by the primary sections for classes 1 to 5. Schools across the state had been closed last year in March following the outbreak of Covid-19. Later, the government allowed reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 from October 19. For the rest, online classes were on. The association had recently met deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, requesting him to allow reopening of schools up to Class 6, so that physical classes could held be before the annual examinations. It had even formulated guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reopening of schools for classes 6 to 8. Anil Agarwal, president of the association, had asked schools to make their preparations for the same. “All SOPs regarding sanitisation, oxygen cylinders etc will be followed strictly,” he said. “Fees defaulters will not be allowed to attend classes. We look forward to a fruitful exchange of learning during these physical classes,” he added.