The Kerala government will consider the option of opening schools in a phased manner as and when there is clearance from the central government and other relevant bodies, said Kerala education minister V Shivankutty.

While speaking at the state legislative assembly, the minister said that through media reports, they have seen that other states have started opening schools. Vaccination among children is very important and there is a protocol regarding the vaccination among children, he added.

The minister further added, “We are taking proactive steps to address the mental health issues among children in schools. This is done by counsellors in schools. However, there is a lack in the number of counsellors and we need to think about appointing more.”

Education sector during pandemic

Education Minister Shivankutty further said the government has made strong interventions in the public education sector. “When most of the states were hesitant, during the beginning of the pandemic, we took the initiative to conduct exams. We are also the only state that took the initial lead in conducting online classes,” he said.

He said, “The Covid-19 pandemic has created challenges in all aspects of life. There are a lot of challenges to the education sector. When we conducted the exams, there were criticisms, but now our students have the confidence that they have cleared the exams.”

In Wayanad, Idukki, Kasargod, and Pathanamthitta districts, there are issues related to internet connectivity. Kerala CM had called for a meeting in the beginning to prioritize solutions. CM had convened a meeting with internet service providers.

“At present, we have digital classes, by the time online classes begin we should be able to find solutions to this,” the education minister added.