Thiruvananthapuram: The decision to reopen schools in Kerala is likely to be delayed in view of the Supreme Court order on Plus One exams, Education Minister V Sivankutty informed the media on Tuesday.
If the apex court rules in favour of the state, an expert committee will be appointed to examine the practicality of reopening schools.
Health experts had recommended the reopening of schools during a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier.
The Education Department has suspended all discussions amid the stay on Plus One examinations.
The SC will consider the case again on September 13. The Kerala government had earlier decided to conduct Pus One exams from September 6.
The Education Department was considering the opening of schools from October in a phased manner. They also planned conduct classes for 10-12 grades in shifts.
It has now decided to enter discussions on the reopening of schools only after the Weekly Infection Population Ratio (WIPR) is below 8%.
Classes for school students have been conducted in online mode in Kerala for the last two academic years after the pandemic outbreak.
Schools have reopened in several other Indian states as the Covid numbers showed a downwards trend in August.