The state education department has announced that government and aided schools will reopen after summer vacation on June 27 maintaining all Covid norms.
“We have decided to reopen schools on Monday following consultation with the chief minister. The health department has told us there is nothing to be worried in reagrd to Covid so far. If there are reasons to be worried, we will act according to the emerging situation,” said education minister Bratya Basu.
The department had on June 13 issued an order extending the vacation in schools, except the ones in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, till June 26 “due to extreme heatwave conditions”.
The summer vacation usually starts in the third week of May and continues for 18 days. This year the vacation had started on May 2 following a government order, which had cited the excessive heat that was prevailing then.
“Since Covid cases are rising again, the schools have been told to follow the extant Covid protocol,” said an official of the department.
The official said the protocol had been shared with the schools in February 2021, November 2021 and again in February 2022.
The government has also allowed reopening of hostels in compliance with Covid norms.