Aurangabad, March 4:
Incharge District collector Dr Anant Gavhane issued orders on Thursday to shut down fifth to ninth and 11th standard schools in rural areas between March 6 and 20 because of the rising number of Novel coronavirus patients.
A total of 61 teachers from 49 schools were found positive in the district during the last month. Some schools were already closed. A meeting of district and Zilla Parishad administrations was held today. Chief Executive Officer Dr Mangesh Gondawale attended it.
The decision to close the schools of rural areas (excluding Aurangabad Municipal Corporation jurisdiction) was taken in the meeting. Also, the RT-PCR test was made mandatory for teachers every week. The number of patients is growing in rural areas, and the teachers' ratio is getting contracted COVID is rising.
Because of this, the decision to shut down the schools was taken. If a teaching or non-teaching staff member is found positive, the school or college is closed for four days.
The attendance of 50 per cent of teachers will be compulsory. Anant Gavhane said that the survey of out of school children is underway and teachers are required on duty for this work.
The district 2218 schools from fifth to eights standards with 3.38 lakh students. 2.67 lakh students are studying from ninth to 12th standard. There will be no actual classes for students of ninth and 11th, but they will have the option of online education.
The schools have 7,623 teachers. There are 65,011 aspirants of SSC examinations in the district, while 55,177 candidates will take HSC examinations. The classes of all these students will be held as usual.