New Delhi: Schools in Delhi will start reopening in a phased manner from next week, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Friday. While the classes from 9 to 12 will begin first, classes from nursery to Class 8 will open from February 14. Sisodia, the Education Minister in Delhi, said the classes will currently run on a hybrid mode — meaning while half the class will attend school physically, the other half will be taught online. “Vaccination is a must in our fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Teachers who still haven’t taken Covid vaccine will not be allowed to take classes for junior students,” he added. However, the classes in universities and colleges will be conducted 100 per cent physically and no classes will run in online mode, Sisodia said. “Students will be allowed to take lessons through physical presence and on online mode as well,” he told reporters. Sisodia said that the vaccination drive for the 15-18 age group will be speeded up. “Students completed their graduation sitting at home during the pandemic affecting their development and quality of education. From next week, all colleges and educational institutes will be allowed to open. No classes will be allowed to run on online mode,” he added. Sisodia said that gyms, spas and swimming pools will also reopen from Monday. And private offices have been allowed to run at 100 per cent capacity. But night curfew will continue although its duration has been reduced by an hour — starting at 11 pm instead of 10 pm. The restaurants will be allowed to open till 11 pm. “They won’t be forced by the police to shut before that,” Sisodia said. UNI ASH MR
