Karnataka not to reopen schools, Pre-University colleges in December
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Monday decided not to reopen schools and pre-university colleges in December due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in this regard decided to meet again by the third week of December to discuss the future course of action, on the recommendation from experts and the health department.
"All education experts, health department and experts have opined that a discussion about opening schools and pre-university colleges should be held by December end.. this is not the time as COVID cases may go up and may affect the students," Yediyurappa said.
The schools have remained closed since March when the national lockdown was first enforced to combat COVID-19.
The meeting, he told reporters later, unanimously decided to meet again by December end to decide on the future course of action and not to reopen schools and pre-university colleges until then.
The Chief Minister said not even five percent of students are attending classes in Degree and engineering colleges that were reopened on November 17.
The meeting was attended by Primary and Secondary Education minister S Suresh Kumar, officials of education, health, rural development, and transport departments, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, and experts.
Health Minister K Sudhakar attended the meeting virtually.
Suresh Kumar said the Chief Minister took the decision as ultimately, saving lives was more important by honoring the advice of the health department
The Education Department would implement the decision.
However classes through public broadcaster- "Samveda", and other means like online would continue.
He said there were two opinions on the matter in the state -- one not to open schools and the other that if it was not done, students in rural areas would face difficulties and their plight should be taken care of.
The department had held consultations with all stakeholders in this regard after which it was decided to hold a meeting under the CM's leadership and also seek the health department's advice, Kumar said.
The Health Minister informed the meeting that the Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19, comprising about 14 medical experts, had recommended not to reopen schools and PU colleges in December.
Proceedings of the Committee meeting shared with the media said COVID-19 infections were on a declining trend with around 1,700 cases and 20 deaths reported daily and it was important to consolidate this gain made after great efforts in the last eight months to contain the disease.
It said, however, currently there is a spike/resurgence of cases in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and other states.
Besides, the cold weather in December and January was conducive to the occurrence and spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, it said, adding that the epidemiological perspective based on a state-wide survey in September was there may be a spike in cases in districts with low prevalence.
The government was now not thinking of reopening schools for classes 1 to 8, Kumar said, adding that discussions had taken place on students facing Class 10 board exams and second PUC (class 12 students who have to face competitive exams), as also in districts where there is lesser number of cases.
Kumar said the meeting also discussed social problems arsing because of not opening schools, with reports of cases concerning child labor and child marriages.
The Minister, in response to a question, said the schedule for class 10 and second PUC exams would be announced soon after discussions so that students will have a better idea.
S R Umashankar, Principal Secretary, Department of Primary and Secondary Education Department, said there are about 9,59,566 class 10 students in Karnataka, including state, CBSE, and ICSE board and 5,70,176 for second PUC (class 12) exams under state board.
On private schools seeking permission to collect second term fees, he said the government was considering it and was looking at the costs involved, input given to students, and the situation of the parents.
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Bengal: Over 55 pc turnout till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of 2 assembly seats
Kolkata (PTI): Over 55 per cent turnout was recorded till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, an official said.
Voting was underway more or less peacefully at 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour, where the EC ordered repoll a day ago, following reports of electoral malpractices.
However, at booth number 179 at Chanda Primary School of Diamond Harbour seat, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother were harassed by central forces. The alleged incident sparked protests by party workers and locals.
The TMC claimed that the voter's mother, who had entered the booth to assist him, and her son were detained for a considerable time by central forces over alleged rule violations.
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"TMC leaders Manmohini Biswas and Pratik Ur Rahman reached the spot and led the protests, with residents terming the action unwarranted harassment. The matter has been taken care of by our officials there," an official of the poll body said.
Polling was otherwise peaceful across 15 booths in the area, he added.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, the official said, adding that till 1 pm, the turnout was 55.57 per cent.
Magrahat Paschim registered 56.33 per cent voter turnout, while in Diamond Harbour, it was 54.9 per cent, a poll official stated.
Voting in these two assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the state elections on April 29.
The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and "material circumstances", the Election Commission official said.
In Magrahat Paschim, TMC's Md Samim Ahamed Molla is pitted against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, while Abdul Majid Halder of the Congress and ISF candidate Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.
TMC candidate Panna Lal Halder is contesting against Dipak Kumar Halder of the BJP in the Diamond Harbour seat. Goutam Bhattacharya of the Congress and CPI(M)'s Samar Naiya are among other candidates.
The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the assembly seats under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.
The poll panel will decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency on Saturday.
The West Bengal assembly elections were held in two phases -- April 23 and April 29 -- amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
