Schools, colleges to remain shut till September 30 in Himachal

Tribune News Service

Shimla September 19

The government has decided to keep schools, colleges and coaching institutions closed till September 30 as most of the parents are unwilling to send their children to schools in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

However, the government has decided to call 50 per cent teaching and non-teaching staff from September 21 in the areas outside the containment zones and give option to students of Class X to XII to come to school for guidance from teachers, but the permission from parents is mandatory.

There will be no regular classes till September-end but online teaching/tele-counselling and related work will be permitted from September 21, subject to the strict adherence to Standard-Operating Procedures (SOPs), said an official spokesman.

The Education Department has prepared a tentative plan for the opening of the schools in a phased manner for Class IX to XII, depending on the fresh guidelines of the Centre, but both parents and the government are not ready to take any risk.

However, it is clear that the schools are unlikely to open for children of Class I to VIIII. The government is contemplating to open the professional colleges and start postgraduate classes after the results of the final year of undergraduate courses is declared.