Gujarat: Classes 9, 11 to go back to school

As per the latest update, School in Gujarat are slated to reopen for Class 9 and Class 11 students starting from 1st February 2021 onwards. Media reports have confirmed that the decision to reopen schools for 9th and 11th Class Students from Gujarat has been announced by Gujarat State Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

Schools for Class 9 and 11 students in the state are slated to reopen for regular / in-person classes after a gap of 10 months in February 2021. Previously, the state government had allowed schools to reopen for Class 10 and 12 students from 11th January 2021 onwards.

With several students and parents still apprehensive about attending regular classes, the state government has also permitted simultaneous continuation of online teaching too has been retained.

After nearly a gap of 10 months, the state government has decided to reopen schools for Class 9 and 11 students in Gujarat to help students prepare for the upcoming final exams.

Class 9 and Class 11 are formative years and are important for students as they lay the foundation for the next year, during which students will have to take up board exams. In line with this, the state government has announced that schools for Class 9 and 11 students would be reopened in the state from 1st February amid strict compliance with COVID-19 Guidelines.

Moreover, Education Minister also noted that attendance of students in the schools will not be mandatory. Students, however, will be required to carry written consent letters from their parents in order to attend regular or in-person classes at the schools.

To ensure safe return of students back to school campuses, school principals have been instructed to ensure that all COVID-19 guidelines are followed strictly. Students, teachers and non-teaching staff members will have to undergo thermal scanning to determine their temperature and will also have to use mask and hand sanitizers / wash their hands regularly.

Along with permitting reopening of schools for Class 9 and 11 students, the State Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama also announced that the state government’s decision to permit resumption of offline tuition classes across the state, subject to adherence to COVID-19 precautionary guidelines and SOPs.