Govt Schools To Continue With Classroom Teaching For IX & XI Students: Odisha Minister

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Bhubaneswar: School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Das on Monday clarified that there was no proposal to discontinue classes being held for Class IX and X students in government-run schools despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.

Briefing the media, the minister said though private schools have reported COVID-19 cases, it is not the case with government schools.

He stressed that physical classes in government schools are being conducted by following the standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

With the practice test of Class IX and X students is scheduled for Tuesday, physical classes of these students will continue as usual, he added.

Welcoming the decision of the School and Mass Education Department, general secretary of the Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA) Prakash Mohanty said that the time has not come to panic as the government school students are attending the physical classes by abiding with the COVID-19 norms.

He, however, said that the department should take a decision on the closure of schools after April 15 after reviewing the COVID-19 situation and the scorching heat.