Delhi schools will remain closed to physical attendance until further notice, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) announced in a review meeting today.
In a Covid review meeting today, January 27, 2022, DDMA has decided to relax some of the COVID-19 restrictions previously imposed in the national capital. However, no new decision was made regarding the reopening of schools in the city.
According to the latest guidelines, all schools and colleges will remain closed for physical attendance until further notice and online classes will continue, according to the rules already in place.
This announcement comes less than 24 hours after Deputy Prime Minister Manish Sisodia said it was increasingly necessary to reopen schools and prevent further damage to the social and emotional wellbeing of children.
“For the past two years, schoolchildren’s lives have been confined to their rooms. Instead of going to schools and spending time in playgrounds, all their activities now only take place on mobile phones,” said Sisodia. “The school closures caused by the pandemic have affected not only their studies, but also their mental health. During COVID, our priority was the safety of children. But as several studies have now shown that COVID is not as harmful to children, it is important to reopen the schools as it is now time for exams and related preparations.”
Sisodia had examples of schools around the world and in other cities of India that were now reopening. He had assured that the Delhi government will recommend the reopening of schools during the DDMA review meeting. “Although Covid cases and the positivity rate in Delhi are declining, it would not be appropriate to keep children away from school. With children returning to school, not only will the schools witness a buzz, but it will signal that lives are getting back on track,” he had said.
Recently, the government of Uttar Pradesh had also announced that schools will remain closed to physical attendance until February 15, due to an increase in Covid cases in the state.
