[Watch] Odisha To Reopen Schools, Colleges From Next Week, Check Details

Bhubaneswar: With the COVID situation improving in the state, the Odisha government has decided to reopen schools, colleges and other educational institutions from next week.

Briefing the media on Thursday, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra said that physical classes will resume in schools for students of Class VIII and above from February 7.

“The decision to reopen schools, colleges and other educational institutions has been taken considering the larger interest of students,” he said.

The Chief Secretary further said that students of KG to Class VII will attend school from February 14.

For the current academic year, the students can pick whether to attend classes online or offline or in hybrid mode, he said

“Class promotion of students from KG up to Class IX will be done on basis of classroom assessment mark. Exams for Class X and XII will be conducted as per the guidelines issued by their respective boards and councils,” he added.

Colleges and technical institutes will reopen from February 7. Short-term training and skill development training centres will also reopen on this day and so also hostels associated with the educational institutions and training centres.

Mahapatra said that examinations in higher education institutions, including professional and technical institutions, may be conducted as per the guidelines issued prior to the closure of the institutions.

The schools and colleges have been also directed to conduct bridge and short-term courses to make up for the loss of study of students during the past two years.

The institutions can also decrease the summer vacation period if the need arises, he added.

Notably, the Centre had issued revised guidelines for reopening of schools earlier in the day and had said that consent of parents is no longer mandatory for attending classes.

On Wednesday, the Orissa High Court has directed the state government to decide about reopening schools within two months

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