Educational institutions in Odisha to remain closed until the end of Durga Puja vacation in view of a prevailing pandemic.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced that schools, colleges, and educational institutions in the state will be closed until the end of Durga Puja vacation in view of the prevailing pandemic situation. The announcement was made by the Chief Minister after reviewing the situation due to COVID-19 in the state. Considering the concerns expressed by students and parents, it has been decided to keep the schools and colleges until the end of Durga Puja holidays, Mr Patnaik said in a statement. The five-day Durga Puja festival is slated to start from October 22 and end on October 26.
The Chief Minister said the decision has been taken to allay fears and apprehension in the minds of students and their guardians about the prevailing situation. Educational institutions across the state have been closed since March 17, two days after the first coronavirus case was reported in the state, an official said.
Health and family welfare department officials have said that as per a projection in the background of the prevailing situation, the number of coronavirus cases is likely to reach 1.02 lakh with the number of active cases at 32,212 by August end.
The School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash had earlier said that the state government is working on making a decision in regard to reopening of schools after the centre releases guidelines for the month of September. He said the government has meanwhile started online classes for students and conceded that 22 lakh of the total 60 lakh students in government and government-aided schools can avail of the facility due to lack of proper internet connections. The higher education department has started online classes for college and university students, an official said.
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