Can’t risk it, schools to stay shut for now: CM

Schools in the national capital have mostly been shut since March last year due to the pandemic, and classes and other teaching and learning activities have broadly shifted online in that time.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that schools in the national capital will not reopen at the moment, since trends across the world point towards a resurgence of Covid-19, and added that his government will “not take any risks” till the vaccination process is complete for everyone.

Delhi government allowed in-person lessons in January this year for students due to appear in the Class 10 and 12 board exams, as well for remedial and practical lessons for students in classes 9 to 12, this was cut short as the fourth wave of infections began to spread in the city. (HT Photo)

“Internationally, there is a trend of resurgence of Covid-19 through a third wave. So until the vaccination process is not completed for everyone, we cannot risk the lives of children,” said Kejriwal while speaking on in the sidelines of an event to launch the pneumococcal conjugate vaccination programme for children.

Schools in the national capital have mostly been shut since March last year due to the pandemic, and classes and other teaching and learning activities have broadly shifted online in that time. Though the Delhi government allowed in-person lessons in January this year for students due to appear in the Class 10 and 12 board exams, as well for remedial and practical lessons for students in classes 9 to 12, this was cut short as the fourth wave of infections began to spread in the city.

Aprajita Gautam, president of the Delhi Parents’ Association, welcomed the chief minister’s announcement. “Most were wary of sending their children to school if offline classes resumed as cases are on the rise in Kerala and other states again,” she said.

Principals of several private schools also said that parents have been worried about their children’s well-being. “Parents are okay with private schools functioning online for now because they are scared for their children. No school or teacher will want children to fall sick or to risk their health. While human contact and offline classes make a difference, we cannot go ahead till parents and students are confident about returning to classes,” she said.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has in the past urged the Centre to allow children to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on June 9 said the Centre must procure as many Covid-19 vaccines as possible to keep children safe, especially in the backdrop of a potential third wave.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 27 asked the Centre to procure Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to inoculate children in the country.

Dr Jugal Kishore, head of the community medicines department in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, said: “The government should not allow any gatherings at this point. They should not act in haste when it comes to taking a call on reopening of schools, colleges and educational institutions.”

DU may start PG course registries from July 26

Delhi University is likely to start the online registration for admissions to postgraduate and research courses from July 26, university officials said on Thursday. The decision was taken during a meeting of the admission committee officials.

However, no decision was taken on the schedule for admissions to undergraduate courses, officials said.

The university conducts an entrance test for admissions for all postgraduate (PG), M.Phil, and PhD courses.

A senior official who attended the admission committee meeting said, “The online registration process for PG and research courses is likely to begin from July 26. The admission committee recommended starting registrations for the nine undergraduate entrance test-based courses as well.”