Schools, Colleges in Sikkim to reopen in August

Dharshana Kathiresan, INN/Chennai, @infodeaofficial

The Sikkim government has delayed the reopening of schools, colleges, and other universities by a month, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections and they plan to continue with the classes from the first week of August 2020, stated the officials.

According to officials, the State Task Force chaired by the Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang held a high-level meeting on Friday and detained the reopening of educational institutions which was supposed to be on July 1.

“There is a need for abundant precaution to resume educational activities in Sikkim in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases,” the officials said. Adding to their worries, Sikkim had reported 63 coronavirus cases till Friday.

They also said that the functioning of all schools, colleges, universities, and teacher education institutes would be in compliance with the UGC and the central government directives.

However, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had declared that the pending class 10 and 12 board examinations would be held from July 1 to 15. The examinations were deferred due to the lockdown imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

The officials added that these examinations are planned to be conducted in all the senior secondary schools of Sikkim so that social distancing norms can be completely enforced and students can steer clear of traveling to a common examination center.

Also, many students of Sikkim scheduled for the CBSE examinations are stuck in other states and they have been directed to apply for a change of centers in the districts where they are currently residing.

Most of the candidates have already applied for the change of centers, the officials added.