By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, February 10, 2022: Schools in the state will reopen now on February 28, 2022, said the state government. The official notification about the same has been circulated among district collectors and District Education Officers (DEOs). The schools have been instructed for physical classes.

Earlier, the Odisha government asked schools to start physical classes for 1 to 9 standards, while students could also opt for online classes. Before that, Odisha School and Mass Education Minister SR Dash informed, “schools students in Class 1 to Class 6 will return on February 14”.

Addressing the media persons, chief secretary, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said, “The educational institutions were shut earlier due to the third wave of the Covid-19 variant Omicron. However, with the Covid situation improving in the state, as we have seen, unlike the first wave and second wave, there were fewer cases of hospitalisation during the third wave.”

“Similarly, the daily positivity rate has also come down. We have vaccinated a large number of teenagers between 15 to 18 years in the ongoing inoculation drive. Considering demands from various quarters to reopen educational institutions, the crucial decision has been taken,” he explained further.

“The decision to reopen schools, colleges, and other educational institutions has been taken considering the larger interest of students,” said Mohapatra.