NEW DELHI, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government has issued modified guidelines on the reopening of educational institutions in different parts of the country, officials said Thursday.
According to the federal Education Ministry, states have to decide if parental consent is needed by schools for allowing physical classes.
"The state governments may decide at their level whether their schools are required to take the consent of the parents of the students for attending the physical classes," the ministry guidelines said.
The ministry said gatherings and congregations at schools should be allowed in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the state.
"Group activities in games, sports, music, dance or other performing art classes may be allowed subject to SOP of the state concerned," the guidelines said. "Specific marking may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure physical distancing in the school premises."
The ministry said necessary precautions may be taken in respect of the children with comorbidities.
Officials said that these modified guidelines were first sent in December 2021, however, following the outbreak of the third wave of COVID-19 triggered by the Omicron variant schools were closed again.
Reports said with the situation improving, several states including Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, have started reopening schools in a graded manner in the last few days.
Last week federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked the National Expert Group to suggest ways and work on modalities to reopen schools nationwide.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, schools in the country by and large have remained shut. Some states did open schools partially on an on-and-off basis but widespread apprehensions and reservations continue to remain.
The closure of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic for around two years severely affected the learning levels among students.
According to a survey conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) across six states last year, at least 80 percent of students aged between 14 and 18 years reported lower levels of learning at home during the pandemic compared to when they attended classes in schools. ■
