The Odisha government has deferred its decision to reopen schools for students of Classes I to V from January 3, considering the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Odisha school and mass education minister S.R. Dash has said that the decision was taken after officials visited various primary schools across the state and held discussions with the stakeholders.
"Keeping in view the rise in the number of daily cases and based on the feedback provided by parents across the state, we have decided not to reopen schools for students of Classes I to V from January 3," Dash said.
The minister, however, added that offline classes for students of Classes VI to X will continue for now. He also said offline examinations will be conducted as scheduled.
Dash had announced on December 28 that offline classes would resume in about 27,000 schools in Odisha from January 3, 2022. He had also mentioned that online classes would continue simultaneously and students could attend in-person classes only after consultation with local guardians or parents.
Odisha recorded 424 new COVID-19 cases on January 1, 67% of them less than 18 years old.
Children aged 15-18 will start getting vaccinated on January 3, 2022. The West Bengal government aims to administer the first shot to around 48 lakh children in a month. Vaccination camps will be set up ay government and private schools across West Bengal.
In Assam, too, government and private schools will be converted into Covid vaccination centres for children. The Assam government aims to complete the vaccination drive for 15-18-year-olds by the first week of March so that students appearing for board examinations in 2022 receive both doses of the vaccine before the exams begin.