Team Herald
PANJIM: In view of current surge in COVID-19 cases, the Goa government has shut down all the secondary and higher secondary schools with immediate effect till January 26.
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The Directorate of Education (DoE) in a circular issued on Wednesday has asked educational institutions from Std VII to XII to remain close till January 26. The physical classes have been suspended but online classes will continue to take place, the order said.
The regular classes in offline mode had commenced in November, last year.
Education Director Bhushan Savaikar said the decision to shut the educational institutions has been taken by the competent authority as the COVID-19 cases are rising in the State.
He said the students in the age group of 15 to 18 years of Std IX to XII be called to the schools for vaccination purposes only, by following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
The vaccination drive for the children in the age group of 15-18 years is currently underway in various schools. The health authorities are aiming to inoculate the targeted population of 74,000 children within this week.
The Task Force on COVID-19 management had recommended suspending physical classes for students till January 26, for now. The decision will be reviewed based on the situation.
The Goa University has also decided to conduct all the semester end examinations for under graduate courses, except for final year, in online mode. The examinations are to commence from January 14.
