Safety of students top priority, schools to reopen only when situation normalises: MHRD

June 9: With the number of novel coronavirus cases increasing by leaps and bounds in the country, the Ministry of Human Resource Development is planning to reconsider its decision to open schools in next two months. As per sources in the HRD Ministry, it was decided that the safety of children is top most priority, hence, schools will not open till situation normalises.

Earlier, the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that schools and colleges can open after consultation with Home and Health ministries and respective state governments, post August 15. However, this decision of MHRD gave rise to panic among the parents who argued that the move will be unsafe for their wards. It was learnt that more than 4 lakh parents from across India sent petition to the government wherein they demanded that schools should not be reopened unless the COVID-19 situation improves or a vaccine is ready.

Obtained valuable suggestions from State governments regarding issues related to school education. Our priority has always been the safety and security of students and teachers. @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @PIB_India @MIB_India @DDNewslive @HRDMinistry

— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) June 8, 2020

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in a tweet stated that, “In view of the current circumstances and after receiving a lot of requests from parents and teachers, we are contemplating the option of reduction in the syllabus and instructional hours for the coming academic year.” He has further invited suggestions from teachers and educationists on the subject asking them to tag their posts with #SyllabusForStudents2020 on social media.

In view of the current circumstances and after receiving a lot of requests from parents and teachers, we are contemplating the option of reduction in the syllabus and instructional hours for the coming academic year.@SanjayDhotreMP @HRDMinistry @PIB_India @MIB_India

— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) June 9, 2020

The minister on Monday said that the decision to open schools will be taken after August keeping in mind the current COVID-19 situation. HRD Minister added that it is quite evident that the parents would be worried about their wards but it would be primarily important for the students to be protected and study in a sanitized way for the government too. He is in talks with state education ministers regularly. The schools in the states would have to follow all guidelines issued by the MHA.

A netizen tweeted to the HRD Minister, “Bachega India, Tabhi to Padhega India.” Another twitterati, Janhvi in a post to the minister wrote, “You have no idea how students are suffering from stress and mental pressure! We have two options either to choose exam/coronavirus infection or our life.. please be practical India is now 5th position worldwide.”

वर्तमान परिस्थितियों में देशभर से #CBSE के पाठ्यक्रम को कम करने की मांग को देखते हुए सभी शिक्षकों, शिक्षाविदों और शैक्षणिक संस्थानों से अपील है कि वे इस दिशा में अपने सुझाव #SyllabusForStudents2020 के साथ मेरे ट्विटर @DrRPNishank या मंत्रालय के ट्विटर @HRDMinistry पर साझा करें। pic.twitter.com/QjotaiHgf2

— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) June 9, 2020

The HRD minister has directed officials to focus on online and digital education as much as possible. He cleared that no schools and colleges will open without SoP issued from Home Ministry for the opening of schools. Ramesh Pokhriyal said that at present, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has not set any date for reopening schools and informed that everything will depend on the situation of COVID -19 pandemic.