Classes for grades 6 to 8 in Karnataka from third week of February

The state government is set to reopen schools for grades 6 to 8 under all boards from the third week of February and has reportedly instructed district officials to make adequate preparations.

Sources in the state Department of Public Instruction revealed to DH that schools are likely to reopen from February 18 or 19.

Further, the department had even favoured holding regular classes from 10 am to 4 pm, during a meeting with the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee that was scheduled on Friday, but was put off.

"There is a lot of pressure from stakeholders and we have also received representations from parents, managements, teachers and educationists to reopen schools for all grades. We plan to present this at the meeting to obtain permission from the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee," explained an official source.

Clarifying that off-line classes for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 were running smoothly, the official said, "The government is also mulling reopening anganwadis. Hence, we have also decided to reopen schools for grade 6 to 8."

Meanwhile, officials explained that there will be a separate schedule to conduct classes for upper primary grades, along with the Covid-19 protocols. "Attending off-line classes will not be mandatory and a consent letter from the parents is a must. Teachers will continue to hold both offline and online classes," the officer clarified.

Currently, for grades 6 to 8, off-line classes are held under Vidyagama programme and children are allowed to come for a few hours to consult teachers on academic issues.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar, in a press briefing, said they will hold a meeting on February 16 with the Health and Family Welfare Department, Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee on reopening of schools for all grades.

The department has decided not to reopen schools for classes from 1 to 5 for this academic year. But the government is mulling extending the Vidyagama programme for these grades from the third week of February.