COVID-19: Decision to close schools should be taken by local administration, announces Varsha Gaikwad

In view of the increasing covid cases in the state, the local administration has  been directed to take decision to keep the school closed till the situation is under control, ” School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad announced on Thursday.

Schools in many cities, including Mumbai and Pune, are currently closed till February 28 due to sudden spike in covid cases. High level meetings are being conducted by the school education department and other officials to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Gaikwad has handed over the responsibility of deciding to close the school from March 1 to the local administration. “The safety of students and teachers is a top priority. The local administration has been instructed to take the necessary steps to clean and disinfect the schools where corona outbreaks have been detected”, she said.

Considering the prevalence of corona among students and teachers in schools in some districts, discussions are being held with the Social Welfare Minister and Tribal Development Minister, Gaikwad said on Twitter, adding that district-wise reviews are being conducted by education officials of all districts in the state.

राज्यातील काही जिल्ह्यातील कोरोनाचा वाढता प्रादुर्भाव पाहता स्थानिक प्रशासनाने जिल्ह्याच्या परिस्थितीनुसार दि.१ मार्च २०२१ पासून आवश्यकता भासल्यास व परिस्थिती नियंत्रणात येईपर्यंत काही काळ शाळा बंद ठेवण्याचा निर्णय घ्यावा, असे निर्देश देण्यात येत आहेत.@CMOMaharashtra@scertmaha

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) February 25, 2021

राज्यात काही जिल्ह्यातील शाळांमध्ये विद्यार्थी व शिक्षकांत कोरोनाचा प्रादुर्भाव लक्षात घेता मी, मा. समाजकल्याण मंत्री व मा. आदिवासी मंत्री, कल्याण विभाग यांच्याशी चर्चा करत आहे. याबाबत राज्यातील सर्व जिल्ह्यांच्या शिक्षणाधिकारी यांच्याकडून जिल्हानिहाय आढावा घेण्यात येत आहे.

— Varsha Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) February 25, 2021