Shillong: Amid a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya, the education department on Monday recommended the committee headed by chief minister Conrad K Sangma that educational institutions across the state can be reopened from September 1.
Speaking with media persons, education minister Lahkmen Rymbui said there is a need to resume classroom teaching as soon as possible as he maintained that online classes cannot replace classroom learning.
According to Rymbui, the education department recommended that colleges and schools for Classes 9 to 12, both in urban and rural areas, can be opened from September 1.
The department, however, recommended there can only be school visits for Classes 6-8 in urban areas.
Meanwhile, Rymbui added that online teaching will continue for Classes 1-5 in urban areas while there can only be school visits for the same classes in rural areas.
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The education department is currently waiting for the committee to give its approval.
Following the first wave of COVID-19, schools and colleges across Meghalaya remained closed since March last year.
The educational institutions reopened for a while early this year before being closed again due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
