After a year-and-a-half, physical classes in schools across Maharashtra resumed on Monday. Schools were closed in 2020, given the Covid-19 pandemic.

Until now, the schools were conducting physical classes only in those areas which reported low Covid-19 cases.

State Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad said that the reopening of schools is a big relief for students and teachers. She added that all schools must follow Covid-19 protocol strictly. She also ordered a school report from Pune that didn’t allow students to enter classrooms as their parents had not paid school fees.    

Physical classes for standards 8th to 12th resumed in urban areas, including Mumbai. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar visited a school in Worli to meet students and teachers. She said all schools have been asked to follow Covid-19 norms, and teachers and students must wear masks.     

In rural areas, physical classes for standards 5th to 12th were resumed. However, standards 1st to 7th in urban areas and standards 1st to 4th in rural areas will not be reopened.

Schools welcomed students with sweets and flowers, and in many cities, special welcome programmes were organized.  Varsha Gaikwad has said that attending offline classes is not mandatory, and students who wish to attend offline classes will have to bring consent from their parents.

The State Task Force on Covid-19 and the School Education Department had rounds of discussions with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray before allowing the reopening of schools.

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