Schools, colleges to be reopened in a phased manner in Delhi: DDMA
Schools in Delhi will reopen in a phased manner from September 1, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) decided on Friday. Colleges, universities and coaching institutes in the Capital will also reopen beginning next month.
Soon after the DDMA meeting, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Amid decreasing cases of Covid, Delhi schools are being opened gradually with full precautions. Along with the education of children, their health will also be taken care of.”
As per the Delhi Government, the offline classes for students of standard nine to 12 will start from September 1, and the offline classes for grade six to eight will begin on September 8.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said it has been decided to resume schools, colleges and coaching activities in Delhi with all precautionary measures, in a phased manner. “From September 1, Classes 9 to 12 in all schools, their coaching classes, as well as colleges and universities will be permitted to reopen,” Sisodia said. He also holds the portfolio of education in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government.
He said social distancing should be strictly followed and no students will be forced to come to the school. “Consent of parents will be essential for students to come. If parents do not permit, then students will not be forced to come. They will not be considered absent either,” he told the media in an online briefing.
“There has been a massive loss of learning in the last 1.5 years. It is a matter of fact that online education cannot replace physical education, and our children have missed out on years of proper learning. Experts agree that online education cannot replace education that is attained in a classroom with a conducive environment,” Sisodia said.