Unlock 3: Schools, colleges shut till August 31; What does this mean for Assam?

Guwahati: Guwahati: The Ministry of Home Affairs today while revealing the salient features of the Unlock 3.0 guidelines, announced that the schools, colleges, and coaching institutions shall remain closed, at least until August 31.

"After extensive consultation with States and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges, and coaching institutions will remain closed till August 31, 2020", the MHA wrote in its notification declaring the new tenets of the upcoming phase of the 'unlock'.

The ministry's declaration will not impact the plans of the Assam Government, which is eyeing a September 1 date for the reopening of the educational institutions. Recently, the state's education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dropped a hint that the students could be headed back to their respective places of learning by the beginning of September.

Addressing health workers at a recent function, the minister said, "If we can bring COVID-19 under control by August, the life of people across the State will ease to an extent; and we can think of opening the educational institutions."

State Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has dropped a hint that the government is contemplating on opening schools and colleges from September 1. The Minister said this while addressing Health workers engaged in the war against COVID-19 here on Monday. "We'll hold meetings of the educational task force and find out as to under what new rules the educational institutions can be opened, without risking the students from infection. Online classes cannot be attended by all students, especially those from rural poor families.

The Minister's proclamation has come amid calls for the resumption of educational institutions, especially in the remote regions where poor network connectivity poses a great challenge to the "online learning" method of teaching. "We'll hold meetings of the educational task force and find out as to under what new rules the educational institutions can be opened, without risking the students from infection. Online classes cannot be attended by all students, especially those from rural poor families", Biswa Sarma further added.

Meanwhile, night curfew has been scrapped altogether and gyms and yoga institutes have been allowed to reopen in Unlock3 -- the third phase of the lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions across the country -- declared by the government today.

In new guidelines, the government said metro rail operations and large gatherings, however, still remain banned. Schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain shut till the end of August.

You can check the guidelines of the Unlock 3.0 HERE

WATCH: How Assam Villagers Live Under Filthy Water & Muck Literally