Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Re-opening of Schools
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## Re-opening of Schools

## 121. ADV.  ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has considered the reopening of schools in the country;
- (b)  if so, whether any decision has been taken in this regard and if so the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  done  any  consultations  with  the  State  Governments regarding reopening of schools, board exams and reducing syllabus and if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) & (b) Ministry of Home affairs(MHA) vide order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 29 th August, 2020 has issued guidelines on unlock 4 which provides that in areas outside the containment zones, schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will continue to  remain  closed  for  students  and  regular  class  activity  up  to  30 th September  2020. However, following is permitted.

- i. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
- ii. States/UTs may permit upto 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/tele counselling and related work, in areas  outside  the  Containment  Zones  only,  with  effect  from  21 st September 2020.
- iii. Students  of  classes  9  to  12  may  be  permitted  to  visit  their  schools,  in  areas outside  the  Containment  Zones  only,  on  voluntary  basis,  for  taking  guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to written consent of their parents/guardians and will be permitted with effect from 21 st September 2020. The MHA guidelines on unlock 4 have been shared with Education Department in States and UTs.

(c) Ministry of Education has held consultations with the states and UTs at various levels on reopening of schools, board exams and reducing syllabus. Hon'ble Education Minister held  a  meeting  with  Ministers  and  Secretaries  of  School  Education  Department  of  all States and UTs through Video Conference (VC)  on 28 th April, 2020 where states and UTs were informed that Students from class I to VIII may be promoted to the next classes. In case of IX and XI the students may be promoted on the basis of the internal assessment and  standard  formula.  States  and  UTs  were  requested  to  start  the  evaluation  process  of answer sheets of board exams and facilitate CBSE to evaluate answer sheets of students in their respective States and UTs. National Council of Educational  Research and Training(NCERT) has  developed  an  Academic  calendar  for  the  class  I  to  VIII.  The States/UTs may also adopt/ adapt the same as per their local conditions.

Further,  a  Video  Conference  meeting  was  convened by Secretary(SE&L) with States and UTs on 17, 18 and 19 th August, 2020 where Continuous Learning Plan and re-opening of schools was discussed. The States and UTs were requested to undertake school-based planning for ensuring continuous learning for every learner enrolled in the school and to prepare a Continuous Learning Plan for every child.

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