COVID-19: West Bengal shuts schools until further notice

In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, the state government has brought forward the summer vacations and decided to close all schools in the state for an uncertain period from tomorrow.

Kolkata (West Bengal):In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, the state government has brought forward the summer vacations and decided to decide to close all schools in the state for an uncertain period from tomorrow.

The summer break usually starts from the first week of May.

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"Classes for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th standard had resumed from mid-February (in state-aided and state-run schools). But, due to the present COVID-19 situation, we are forced to prepone the summer vacation. The education department will issue necessary notifications today," Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee said.

Chatterjee said he would also urge private schools to follow suit.

The decision comes amid reports of many teachers in schools testing positive in the past two months.

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The headmaster of a state-run school in Jadavpur, however, said that online classes will continue for students of Class 10 and 12 during the vacation "or the early phase of the vacation".

WITH AGENCY INPUTS