MUMBAI: For the first time since the March 2020 lockdown, the BMC has permitted all educational institutions from pre-primary to Class 12 to go fully offline from March 2. Only students with comorbidities and chronic diseases will need parental consent to attend physical schools and colleges.

The decision came after cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray met state and civic officers on Friday to decide on making educational institutions go 100% offline. Currently, schools function in the hybrid mode. A decision on schools across the state is awaited, as is a decision on 100% offline mode for colleges and universities.

Thackeray tweeted: “Schools in Mumbai can resume in March with pre-Covid timings, attendance, extra-curricular activities, school buses, apart from certain essential Covid appropriate norms as cases steadily decline in Mumbai.”
According to BMC’s fresh SOP, masks will be mandatory in the class, but not on playgrounds or during school activities.

Masks are must in class, but not on playgrounds

The BMC on Friday issued a fresh standard operating procedure (SOP) for students, including resumption of school playgrounds and extra-curricular activities.

Masks will be mandatory in the class but not on playgrounds or during school activities, the SOP stated. Students will continue to be checked for temperature. Recess and lunch breaks have been allowed.

Schools for disabled children too have been allowed 100% offline attendance.

Ajit Kumbhar, deputy municipal commissioner (education), confirmed city schools have been allowed to go fully offline.

This is the first time since the March 2020 lockdown that schools will function 100% in the physical mode.

From October, schools were functioning both offline and online. In January, schools had to resume 100% online education due to the rise in Omicron cases. Schools were once again back to the hybrid mode from January 24.

With infections falling, schools had been demanding 100% offline attendance. With SSC exams beginning on March 15, though, schools will not be able to function full time. This year, all schools are doubling up as exam centres.

“Secondary students will get only a few hours in school as they have to leave before SSC students arrive by 9.30am-10am. Primary students may have to continue online on days when there are papers from 3pm-6.30pm,” said the principal of a Kurla school.

The paediatric Covid task force had on Wednesday communicated to the state and the BMC that it is safe to resume full-time physical schools.

Sources said across the state, district and civic officials will have to take a decision on going fully offline depending on the Covid situation.

Some schools have already done away with the hybrid mode. “All students have been attending physical classes since the past few weeks. We have given them recess too and students are careful with masks and social distancing,” said the principal of a Powai school.

The hybrid mode did not work for students logging into virtual classrooms. “We have been holding only online and offline classes twice a week. This way all students are benefiting,” said a teacher of a Worli school.

Lack of transport facilities has been a prime reason for parents not sending children to school. School bus operators have hiked fares by around 30% and have not been receiving a good response from parents.

Parents of younger children want to go offline only in the next academic year. “Offline should start next year as only a few days of schooling are left,” said the parent of a Class 3 student.

Thackeray tweeted that schools will be encouraged to organise vaccination camps for students aged 15 plus.