Tamil Nadu School Reopening: Schools for classes 9 to 12, colleges in Tamil Nadu to reopen as planned on 1st Sept

Tamil Nadu School Reopening: As per the updates, schools for classes 9 to 12, colleges, polytechnics and universities will reopen in Tamil Nadu as planned from 1st September 2021. The State Government has confirmed that there is no change in the decision, and the schools will reopen on the scheduled date with COVID-19 protocols. The state government is yet to decide on primary classes. In a high-level meeting held earlier, the Tamil Nadu CM has decided schools and colleges will reopen from the date as announced earlier. Tamil Nadu schools will start with refresher courses for students of higher classes on the reopening day. The curriculum for refresher classes has been prepared by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT).

Hostels for school and college students, working men, women’s hostels for the staff, will be allowed to reopen following necessary COVID-19 protocols. Staff at these hostels must be vaccinated and the school and college management must ensure that.

Concerns Over Reopening of Schools and Colleges in Tamil Nadu

Students, parents and few stakeholders have raised concerns about reopening Tamil Nadu Schools. However, the state government has taken this decision as 90% of teachers and 89% of the school staff members have been vaccinated. The state government will continue doing special vaccination camps for teachers and staff. Further, the state CM requested parents and teachers at the schools and colleges to ensure that students wear masks, maintain physical distancing, and follow the COVID-19 guidelines as the educational institutions have been allowed to reopen in the interest of the students’ education and mental well-being.

Tamil Nadu School Education Department To Prepare a Schedule

The School Education Department has been directed to prepare a schedule so that most of the classes will be for a shorter duration. Also, students will not have to wait for a longer time. Also, the students will need to produce consent letters from their parents to attend offline classes. Tamil Nadu Schools have been asked not to make attendance compulsory and conduct offline classes with 50% capacity.

Tamil Nadu Colleges Reopening Protocols and Schedule

The government in its order has stated that second and third-year students in the undergraduate courses can attend classes on an alternative basis, while second-year PG students will have all six days operational. Similarly, in four-year degree courses - 2nd and 3rd-year students will attend on alternative days. The 4th year students will have classes on all six days. For the 5-year course, 2nd and 4th-year students will attend college on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while 3rd and 5th-year students will attend classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.