The Karnataka government on Saturday decided to reopen schools and Pre-University Colleges that were shut due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, for class 10 and second year PUC (class 12) students from January 1.
It also decided to start the Vidyagama programme, which enables continued schooling for students from classes six to nine, from that date.
The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on reopening schools and PU colleges in the state. He said the advice given by the state's Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19 on reopening schools and colleges was discussed in detail for about an hour.
They suggested starting classes 10 and 12 (second PUC) from January 1 and for imparting education for students from classes six to nine through the Vidyagama programme, he said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yediyurappa said “Everyone has unanimously agreed to it...So it has been agreed to start classes 10 and 12 from January 1 and Vidyagama for classes 6 to 9 students.”
In a tweet giving information about it,the Chief Minister added that a decision on reopening schools for students of other classes would be taken after reviewing the situation for 15 days. Both classes 10 and second PUC are crucial as students will have to face board exams.
Schools and PU colleges have remained closed since March just ahead of the national lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19. Degree and engineering colleges in the state were reopened on November 17.
The government, on the advice of the technical advisory committee, last month decided not to reopen the schools and PU colleges in December, citing cold weather and chances of a second wave.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said two things had to be kept in mind when reopening schools - the health of students and the second,their academic future “We are balancing both and taking all necessary care,” he said. Standard Operating Procedure has been prepared on reopening schools and the duration it should be held, he said, adding that the Rural Development and Urban Development departments would take necessary steps to sanitise government school classrooms.