Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Sikkim are reopening schools for the students of class 9-12th outside containment zones from Monday. The home ministry had released guidelines earlier for reopening schools in a graded manner from 15th October.

These schools are reopening after a gap of 7 months during which they were closed to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the classes have been going on through online means.

Many states including Delhi, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh have decided to keep schools shut in wake of Covid-19 spread. The schools which are going to reopen will have to follow strict guidelines released by the Home Ministry.

3 states going to reopen schools: Key points

• In Uttar Pradesh, classes will be held in shifts. All necessary protocols including social distancing and proper sanitisation of premises will have to be strictly followed by schools.

• The students, who will attend the schools, will need to have written permission from their parents or guardian.

• Online mode of learning will continue to take place and will be preferred over offline claases.

• Similarly in Punjab, online mode of learning will be preferred over offline and students need to have consent from parents to attend offline classes in school.

• In Sikkim, all schools will reopen and only the students of the 11th and 12th standard will be able to attend the classes, that too with written parental consent.

• Classes will be held six days a week and Saturday will be half-day.