UP Schools To Reopen for Higher Classes From 16 August, Colleges to Start from September

UP Schools and Colleges to Reopen: The Uttar Pradesh government decided to reopen schools for high and intermediate (secondary) classes from 16th August 2021. The school will reopen with 50% attendance. The state government order stipulated commencement of classes in higher educational institutions such as colleges and universities from 1st September onwards. The decision has been taken followed by a meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about re-opening schools in the state. The complete guidelines will be released soon. Furthermore, the Uttar Pradesh government has also asked for the process of admission of students to colleges and universities to begin from 5th August onwards.

Statement of Additional Chief Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal

“Students of high school and inter classes will participate in the 75th Independence Day celebrations on August 15. And on August 16, teaching will commence in the schools with half capacity, while adhering to the COVID-19 protocol,” Additional Chief Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal said. While the detailed protocols have not been released by the government, students will be expected to follow social distancing.

UP government has taken this decision after seeing the improved COViD situation in the state. There are less than 650 COVID-19 cases in the state, giving the government confidence to go ahead with the decision to reopen educational institutes. Further, 58 districts have reported no new COVID-19 cases.

States Reopening Schools and Colleges

Several states have eventually decided to re-open and conduct physical classes by following COVID-19 guidelines. States such as Punjab, several parts of Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh have been slowly permitting physical classes. Students in Bangalore who are vaccinated or partially vaccinated have also been attending colleges.

Apart from Punjab, schools for classes 9 to 12 also reopened in Uttarakhand on Monday, while classes 6 to 8 will resume on August 16. Schools in Himachal Pradesh for classes 10 to 12 also reopened on Monday. Higher secondary classes along with colleges and universities resumed in Chhattisgarh as well on Monday.