Schools will reopen only once the situation caused due to coronavirus is normalised: HRD Minister

May 15: During a live interaction with the teachers on Friday, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank expressed the view that modified seating arrangements, change in timings and further division of the class into different sections could be  among the key features that schools will have to implement whenever they reopen amidst the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by The Indian Express.

He explained, “It is quite possible that classes would be able to incapacitate only 30 per cent of students they used to have before coronavirus. These modalities are being worked out by NCERT.” He said that students may have to follow social distancing norms not just within classrooms, but also during their commute to school in buses. The minister also mentioned that while the NCERT has been asked to come up with guidelines for schools, the UGC has been tasked with the same mandate for colleges and universities.

Acharya Devo Bhava : Interacting with teachers from across India #EducationMinisterGoesLive https://t.co/F9dBJlWubP

— Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) May 14, 2020

While the UGC has stated that classes for enrolled students will begin in August for fresh batch classes will begin from September, there is no clarity on when schools will reopen. “The health of our students is our key concern. The schools will be open only once the situation caused due to coronavirus is normalised,” the HRD Minister commented.