Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has directed the teachers of classes 10 and 12 to be present in schools from December 17.

Fifty per cent of the teachers have to be in schools on alternative days. 

The teachers have to finish pending digital classes and revision of textbooks at the earliest. The government is also considering to start practical classes by mid-January.

The decision has been made in view of the public examinations for class 10 and 12 due in March.

Schools in the state have been remaining shut throughout the academic year due to the COVID lockdown. The government has made extensive arrangements for conducting online classes, which has become the new normal across the world.

The government has been exploring the options to reopen schools in a phased manner considering the concerns of various students and parents as SSLC and Plus Two exams are nearing.

Though the Central government had permitted the states to reopen schools after October 15 following the COVID guidelines, various states were not ready. 

Wait-and-watch mode on school reopening

On Tuesday Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said that a decision on reopening schools and colleges would not be taken in haste. “The issue of starting regular academics for students in higher classes who would be taking public examinations will be considered if the COVID-19 situation improves,” he said.

However, in the lower classes, studies are likely to continue in the online mode the entire academic year, the Chief Minister added.

At the same time, there are plans to open higher educational institutions by early 2021, the CM stated.

On Tuesday, the Kerala government had allowed technical educational institutions, vocational training centres other than schools, tuition centres, computer centres and dance schools to open adhering to certain rules. According to the government, these institutions can function with 50 per cent capacity of the classrooms, with a limit of 100 persons.