Unlock 5.0 School Reopening Guidelines: Schools, Colleges Allowed to Reopen from 15th Oct, States to take Final Decision

Unlock 5 School Reopening Guidelines: Schools and Colleges across the country have been allowed to reopen from 15th October, after nearly 6 months of lockdown. The Union Home Ministry, as part of its Unlock 5.0 Guidelines permitted reopening of educational institutions across the country from 15th October, but has left the final decision about the same to respective state governments and local administration depending upon the prevailing COVID-19 ground situation. While, schools have been given in-principal approval for reopening, online learning has still been maintained as the preferred mode of education across the country owing to the pandemic. Even those schools and higher educational institutions which reopen will have to hold voluntary classes with no compulsory attendance. Students who want to visit school for voluntary classes will be able to do so only after their parents’ consent.

Online Learning to be Preferred

As per the revised schools opening guidelines issued today, Online Learning will remain as the preferred mode of teaching unless situation permits for the reopening of schools and educational institutions. Moreover, the guidelines also call for voluntary attendance by the students after reopening that too only after written consent from the parents.

CFITs to be Reopened for Research Scholars, PG Students

According to the Unlock 5.0 Guidelines released today, research scholars and postgraduate students in science and technology streams in centrally-run institutions who require laboratory and experimental works will be allowed to visit the institutions from October 15. However, the guidelines clearly state that the administration or head of the institution of the Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions needs to justify the there is a “genuine requirement” of the PhD and PG students for the lab works. Only after this, students will be permitted to visit institutions for practical work.

Department of Higher Education to Decide on Reopening of Colleges

While the Home Ministry, in the Unlock 5.0 Guidelines released today has given its in principal approval for reopening of higher education institutions including colleges; the final decision about their reopening has been left to the Department of Higher Education. The Dept is expected to decide upon the reopening of colleges and universities in the state in consultation with the Education Ministry on the basis of assessment of the ground situation in the states and union territories.