Delhi: Class 10, 12 schools reopen after 10 months, canteens to stay closed

New Delhi: After months of closure, Class 10 and 12 schools reopened in the national capital on Monday. The students who returned to school campuses after almost 10 months were given a rousing welcome amid Covid-19 safety precautions. All educational institutions were shut down across the country after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

The move comes ahead of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board examination scheduled to begin in May.

Delhi Deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia took to Twitter to greet students:

“Best wishes to the students of class 10&12th who are going to visit their school today after 10 months… (though it’s only for limited purpose and with covid protocols..) But still… I am glad that schools are opening in Delhi today,” Sisodia tweeted.

Best wishes to the students of class 10&12th who are going to visit their school today after 10 months…

(though it’s only for limited purpose and with covid protocols..) But still…

I am glad that schools are opening in Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/vmLRIkVl68

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 18, 2021

Felt really good to meet children in schools after such a long time!

They are still adjusting to be back in school with safety norms but are extremely happy to meet their friends!

Teachers are also overjoyed to meet students saying it has filled an empty space in their life. pic.twitter.com/w7OyTo9fWV

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 18, 2021

Even as schools reopened their gates to welcome students after 10 months due to the COVID-19 outbreak, health and safety protocols are being strictly followed to keep Coronavirus at bay.

Preventive measures like no canteen, food sharing, assembly or extracurricular activity along with entry and exit through multiple gates, frequent sanitation, and shorter class hours were followed to prevent the spread of the virus.

The decision to reopen the classes for senior students came after the national capital saw a decline in coronavirus cases in the last few days.

Kusum Shahwali, Principal of Sarvodaya Kanya Bal Vidhyalaya No-3, Delhi, said that her school is following all COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

“We are doing thermal checks of everyone before they are entering the school premises. We are providing masks to students who don’t have one. We are also making sure that students sanitise their hands regularly and maintain social distancing in school premises,” she said.

According to Neera Rao, Principal of Harcourt Butler School in Delhi, ahead of the upcoming board examination, the students needed revisions and practice, that can only be done in a classroom with the guidance of a teacher.

“If we expect good results in the examination for students, teachers have to clear all their doubts in the class, by maintaining an eye to eye contact. Students were not able to understand things online as well as they can understand in class. Now we can take their revision. Though the course has been reduced, students still need the practice to write papers, that only teachers can teach in class and can’t be done at home. They needed guidance,” she said.

Though schools have reopened, there is still an option to attend classes online. Students have the option to choose between online and offline mode of education.