Himachal schools likely to be opened after Diwali

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 17

As many as 53 students have been found Covid positive ever since the opening of schools on September 27. The maximum number of students tested Covid-19 positive in Kangra and Mandi (14 each), followed by Hamirpur (8), Solan (6), Bilaspur (4), Shimla (3), Chamba, Kinnaur, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti (1 each), while no case was reported from Una and Sirmaur districts.

"The schools had been closed for 48 hours wherever the students tested positive and Covid-19 guidelines were adhered to strictly," said Director Higher Education Amarjeet Sharma adding that about 99 per cent of the total 46,744 teachers and 15,900 non-teaching employees had been administered the first dose of vaccine and more than 35- 36 per cent had received the second dose also.

The students are fed up at home and are keen on attending the school after a long gap. The percentage of students attending classes has increased from 48 per cent on September 27 to 60 per cent on October 16.

Schools were opened for Class X and XII on September 27 and September 30 for Class IX and XII while classes for grade VIII were started on October 11. However, online classes under 'Har Ghar Pathshala' initiative are still going on in the state.

The union government has issued elaborate guidelines for re-opening educational institutions and coaching centres and has asked the state to take measures to ensure strict compliance in this regard. The Himachal Pradesh government is likely to review the situation in this regard on October 21.

There will be a 10-day break in Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti district due to Dasehra festival and the final decision on opening of schools for classes I to VII would likely to be taken near Diwali after by-elections in the area, depending on the Covid-19 situation in the state, highly placed sources in the government maintained.