MUMBAI: The education department of government of Maharashtra intends on reopening schools for classes 5 to 8, but only after getting an approval from the health department of the state. Varsha Gaikwad, School Education Minister of the state said that they are consulting parents and local officials in this regard at the moment. She mentioned that local officials have also conducted a large number of RT-PCR tests on school teachers and non-teaching staff as a precaution.
Last month, the state government had asked district collectors and local authorities to decide on reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12, which have remain shut since March this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Gaikwad, at least three lakh students from classes 9 to 12 have been attending schools in 25 districts of the state since November 23.
Gaikwad assured that the physical classes for students from class 5 to 8 will resume only after receiving approval from the public health department.