Schools for students of Classes 9 to 12 reopen after nearly 20 months with strict Covid-19 SOPs. Students have queued up at school gates across West Bengal since morning as per the schedule announced by the state government for holding classes at different timings for secondary and higher secondary sections. Teachers welcomed students with a smile, hand sanitisers, and thermal guns at the entrance. Further, it is instructed that all the students, teaching and non-teaching staff will wear masks all the time.

For junior and middle school students, online classes will continue for the time being. The state’s education minister, Bratya Basu, said that efforts are being taken to gradually bring all the pupils back to school.

The education minister said that no student will be forced to attend schools, and it is up to them and their parents or guardians to take the call.

Some parents, though happy over the reopening of schools for physical classes, expressed apprehension about whether their wards will adhere to the guidelines for Covid-19 safety since the students will be seeing each other and sitting in classrooms together after a very long time.

Universities and colleges also reopened

Colleges and universities also opened their gates to students on Tuesday, although authorities of some of these institutions have said that different days will be scheduled for various faculties to reduce crowding and mingling on campuses.

Students have been asked not to share their tiffin and to adhere to social distancing norms.

Educational institutions were closed for physical classes in March, 2020 after the central government announced a countrywide Covid-induced lockdown.

Though the lockdown was later lifted, schools and colleges continued to remain closed in the state owing to the pandemic situation.