Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government is keen on reopening schools for Classes 10 and 12 as early as January after months of shutdown in the wake of the Covid pandemic. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for a high-level meeting on December 17 to decide on the matter.

Earlier, the government had asked 50 per cent of teachers handling subjects for Classes 10 and 12 to return for work by December 17. This was aimed at finishing the online classes ahead of the annual exams as well as to directly attend to the academic needs of students. 

School authorities have been urged to prepare their own plans to ensure the commencement of classes in the New Year.

They need to adhere to the health guidelines to curb the spread of the Covid.  

However, there is still no word on the examination date as that rests on the schedule of the Central Board of Secondary Education as well as the dates of the  National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test  and Assembly election.

The Central government had earlier permitted the states to reopen schools from October 15. In the wake of Covid pandemic, schools in Kerala have been shut from March 2020.