As the Maharashtra education department has made it mandatory for teachers to undergo an RT-PCR test for the coronavirus, a total of 24 teachers and 10 non-teaching staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai so far.
According to sources, three of these teachers are from the Municipal Education Department whereas the rest are from the West, North and South divisions of Mumbai. Earlier on November 7, Varsha Gaikwad, state education minister, announced that the government would resume schools for classes 9th to 12th standard from November 23. The decision subsequently got a clearance from the state government and a revised set of SOPs for school reopening was thus released on November 10. As per the SOPs, parents would have to sign a written consent before students attend school. Similarly, students can study from their homes with the consent of their parents.
However, schools in Mumbai are to remain closed till December 31. Although schools remain closed in the cities, in the rural areas of Pune, Aurangabad, as well as in Latur, Osmanabad, schools have reopened.
There are a total of 1,802 schools from 9th to 12th standard under the jurisdiction of Mumbai Deputy Director's Office, in which 7,51,242 students are studying. The number of teachers teaching 9th to 12th standard is 19,442 whereas the number of non-teaching staff is 6,009. Out of this, 4,072 teachers are from the West Division, 2,122 teachers from the North Division and 1,521 teachers from the South Division who were tested.
According to the previous notice, the students are to attend school on alternate days in order to ensure a 50 per cent attendance. In addition, the guidelines stated that a regular school day will span not more than four hours. However, no lunch break is to be provided to the students.
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