Kerala Minister says schools to reopen on Nov 1, assures online and offline classes

Kerala Education minister V Sivankutty said that classes will be held in multiple shifts after schools will be reopened from November 1 in the state. Online classes will also be continued.

Thiruvananthapuram: Classes will be held in multiple shifts after schools will be reopened from November 1 in Kerala. State Education minister V Sivankutty said adding that the online classes will also be continued. Kerala government on Saturday announced that the schools in the state will reopen from November 1. Offline classes for standards 1 to 7 (primary section) and 10 and 12 will begin on November 1, while they will reopen for other classes on November 15.

The Health ministry and education ministry will finalise a protocol after discussing with teachers and parents regarding their concerns about the reopening of the schools and it is expected to be finalised in the next two days.

'The government is concerned about the future of children. As schools are reopening, the school buses will be disinfected and those schools which do not have bus facilities will be provided other facilities instead,' said Minister V Sivankutty.

Children must wear a face mask, maintain social distancing and must use sanitiser at regular intervals, he suggested.

The minister also refuted the allegation that the education department did not hold discussions over school reopening in the state. " The allegations are distributed from their fictional minds. I assured people that the state government has come to the decision after a review meeting with the education department."

Speaking over the Class XI examination, he said " A misreading has arisen as we have not issued any resolution from the meetings. Discussions will be held with high officials and experts and the final decision will be taken for alignment for offline exams."

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