Odisha: Offline classes for VI, VII to resume from November 15

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Wednesday announced to resume offline schools for students of classes 6 and 7 on November 15. Students will attend classes from 9.30am to 1pm.
However, it is not mandatory to attend classes offline as online lessons will continue as usual, the government notice said.
"The students of classes 6 and 7 will follow the same standard operating procedure (SOP), issued by the government for other classes. Most of the schools have been strictly following the Covid-19 guidelines and things are under control," said school and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash.
The minister, however said, no decision has been taken to reopen classes 1 to 5. "Students of primary classes are very young. They may not follow the rules of social distancing. The government will soon take a decision on classes 1-5," Dash added.
Offline classes for classes 8 to 12 have already resumed in the state with Covid-19 restrictions in place. Classes are being held for three hours a day without any lunch break or recess. Hostels in schools have also been allowed to reopen. Teachers and parents welcomed the state's decision to reopen offline schools for the students of classes 6 and 7.
"Several states have resumed offline classes as Covid-19 cases have gone down significantly. I am happy that the government reopened classes 6 and 7 and hope junior sections reopen too soon," said Sarmistha Dash, a mother of two children who study in classes 7 and 5.