With the cases of Covid-19 declining in the State, the Haryana Government on Friday decided to reopen the schools from July 16 onwards. However, the students who want to continue with online classes would be allowed to do so. While the Government and private schools for class 9th to 12th will be open from July 16, it has been decided to open schools for class 6th to 8th from July 23.

The decision regarding reopening schools for classes 1 to 5th will be taken later by the  State Government, stated an order issued by Haryana Education Department on Friday.

In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, Haryana Government had on April 16 ordered closure of all schools, colleges, coaching institutions, ITIs, libraries and training institutes whether government or private in the state. Later, summer vacation was announced in schools till June 15.

At present, the students are attending online classes.

Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar on Friday said that after reviewing the situation, it has been decided to reopen the schools, An order in this regard has been issued to district education officers and others. They have been directed to ensure strict compliance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, he said.

According to the order issued, there will be no mandatory requirement for students to attend the schools physically. Those who want to continue their education through online classes will be allowed to do so. Those who want to attend classes in the schools will have to submit a permission letter from the parents, it said.

SOP issued to ensure COVID-19 protocol should be strictly followed in the schools, the order stated.

A high-level meeting of the Education Department has also been convened on July 12 to ensure safety of students and teaching faculty after opening of the schools. The main agenda during the meeting will be putting in place a mechanism to ensure compliance to COVID appropriate behaviour in schools and facilitate students through both online and offline classes.

Notably, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had on Thursday directed the officers concerned to chalk out a plan to reopen the schools at the earliest, given the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases.

As now the COVID-19 curve is flattened, therefore, adequate arrangements while ensuring strict adherence of  COVID-19 should be made and educational institutes should be reopened at the earliest, Khattar had directed.