Schools, Colleges To Open By February 1: Telangana

Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy today said that the government had decided that all the schools and colleges in the state would be reopened on February 1.

She was however quick to allay any fears of anxious parents regarding the ongoing pandemic, and said that all the educational institutions of the state would be run strictly adhering to the Covid-19 safety guidelines.

At a meeting with the managements of the state's private schools and colleges, Reddy asked them to start making arrangements for the February 1 reopening at the earliest, and told them to ensure that online classes be continued for those students who would not be able to attend the on-site classes.

"Take up all the necessary repair and renovation works of the schools, colleges and hostels, and ensure that the managements of all the institutions make provisions for the implementation of the Covid-19 safety guidelines," she said.

The minister also instructed the concerned officials, including the district Collectors, to oversee the preparations and to submit a report on the status of the same by January 25.

Following the meeting, Reddy told the media that the educational institutions had given the government a list of 14 demands and appeals.

"While we have asked them to clean up the institutions before the reopening following the lockdown caused by the outbreak of Covid-19, the management of the institutions have now handed over a list of 14 demands and appeals to us. We will look into these at the earliest," she said.

The TRS government will reportedly start classes for engineering, degree and post graduation final year students from February 1 while other higher education courses will commence in May.

The state government has been heavily invested in ensuring the safe recommencement of on-site classes across all educational institutions. As part of this effort, Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy has been conducting regular meetings with the concerned officials. Yesterday, she met various government officials to discuss the matter in detail.