Maharashtra Schools reopening news: Big update for Classes 5-12 students in urban and rural areas - details inside

Maharashtra to reopen schools from August 17 in both rural and urban areas, Maharashtra education minister Varsha Gaikwad announced on Friday. “Offline classes will commence in rural areas for students from classes 5 to 8, while those in cities will be for students from classes 8 to 12 following Covid-19 protocols,” Gaikwad said.

The announcement by the Maharashtra education minister came after Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, also decide to reopen schools. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced on Friday to reopen the school for Classes 9-12 - from August 23. Whereas, the Tamil Nadu government has proposed to resume offline classes for classes 9 to 12 from September 1 and allow re-opening of medical colleges in the State from August 16.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government has decided to reopen schools in areas where no COVID-19 case has been reported in June. Schools in COVID-19 free areas were resumed for classes for 8-12 from July 15.

Recently, Maharashtra's Nashik district recorded thirty cases of the Delta variant altogether which created a panic amongst people living in nearby areas. All the patients were found in the rural areas of Nashik district.

The administration in charge of the area was alarmed at the number of cases of the Delta variant in such a small area which can easily spread amongst others.