New Delhi (NVI): The Karnataka government today decided that schools and pre-university (PU) colleges will not reopen in the state till end of December, amid fears of a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The decision was taken after a high level meeting at Bengaluru today, led by Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.
BS Yediyurappa made the announcement and stated, “About opening schools in current line. We should not start any classes in schools or PU colleges till December end. On the advice of the Health Advisory Committee of the Department of Health, it was decided to review the situation till the end of December and take an appropriate decision at that time.”
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar, health ministers and officials from the education department were also present in the meeting.
Earlier, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for COVID-19 had recommended this move to the Karnataka government. “COVID-19 scenario shall be reviewed in the last week of December to consider reopening of schools at an appropriate time subsequently,” TAC said in a statement.
All schools in Karnataka have remained closed since March when the lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile, the state government had also taken suggestions from parents, health committee officials and educational experts, and other stakeholders.
The graduate, post-graduate, diploma and engineering colleges have already reopened on November 17 in the state after eight months of closure with preventive measures for COVID-19.
So far, the coronavirus tally in the second worst-affected state Karnataka had surpassed 8,73,046 COVID-19 cases, while the death toll stands at 11,654.
-RJV
