Punjab schools and colleges to reopen from September 9 with stringent safety directives

Punjab schools reopen

The Punjab Government has announced that all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, will resume physical classes starting Tuesday, September 9, 2024. The decision comes after a precautionary closure was enforced due to the severe flooding that impacted large parts of Punjab.

The announcement was made officially by Punjab's Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains, via a detailed post on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. This move aims to restore academic normalcy while prioritizing student and staff safety above all else.

Minister Bains outlined a clear, two-day plan to ensure a safe and smooth transition back to classrooms:

September 8 (Monday): All government schools will remain closed for students. However, teaching staff are required to be present on campus. This day will be dedicated to a massive cleanliness and inspection drive.

September 9 (Tuesday): All government educational institutions will reopen for regular academic sessions.

"A thorough inspection of the school buildings will be conducted by the teachers. If any problem or defect is found, it must be immediately reported to the Deputy Commissioner and the engineering department of the district," Minister Bains stated in his directive.

Recognizing that the impact of the floods is not uniform across the state, the government has delegated final authority to the district level. The minister explicitly stated that if any school or college building is still affected by the floods, the decision on its continued closure will rest with the respective Deputy Commissioner (DC).

This localized approach ensures that decisions are made based on ground reality, preventing any risk to students in vulnerable areas.

The reopening order extends uniformly to all private and aided institutions. The Punjab Education Department has placed the onus on private school managements to guarantee complete safety.

The decision to temporarily close educational institutions was a response to one of the worst flood situations Punjab has witnessed in decades. Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir caused the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with several seasonal rivulets, to swell and overflow. Subsequent heavy rain within Punjab further aggravated the situation, leading to widespread waterlogging and damage to infrastructure.

Parents and students are advised to contact their respective institutions for any specific reopening guidelines and to stay updated via local official channels, especially in regions that were severely flood-hit.