65% students turn out as schools reopen

It was a festival-like atmosphere amid apprehensions of the pandemic

After 18 long months of COVID-19-induced silence, schools and PU colleges in Dharwad district came back to life on Monday with close to 65% of students attending classes on the first day. Amid apprehensions about the pandemic, it was a festival like atmosphere on campuses of educational institutions as students were eager to meet their teachers and friends. Teachers and administrative staff greeted their students with roses and bouquets, while strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocol. And, a majority of schools had festival-like decorations and rangolis drawn at the entrance. In many schools, SSLC toppers were felicitated and they shared their success stories. As per government circular, districts with positivity rate of less than 2% have been permitted to allow reopening of schools and in Dharwad district, the positivity rate has dipped to zero. All the 416 government, aided and unaided high schools in the district reopened for Class IX and X students on Monday. Officials of the departments of Health and Public Instruction had made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the health protocol is adhered to during school hours.