After a gap of nearly 20 months, schools in Tamil Nadu reopened from Monday for Classes 1-8.

Along with other parts of the country, the schools in Tamil Nadu remained closed from March 2020 due to the Covid19 pandemic situation.

The Tamil Nadu government in an order allowed play schools, kindergarten classes, and Anganwadis to reopen from November 1.

Though many educational institutions have decided to conduct physical classes by following the safety protocol, some have opted to wait and watch before following suit.

Also read: Schools to re-open in Tamil Nadu for Class 1-8 from Nov 1

The School Education Department while allowing schools to function emphasised that the “happiness of students” was a priority.

A media report quoted an education department official as saying: “Over the next 10 to 15 days, our focus will be on reminding the students that schools are happy spaces and ensuring the environment remains welcoming to them.”

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“For students of Classes I & II in particular, who have never attended classes on campus, we are asking the school authorities not to be rigid about timings, and allay the concerns of parents whenever needed,” the official added.

The Directorate of Elementary Education said the focus will be on encouraging students to participate in activities, including sharing of experiences, storytelling, music, dance and drawing.

It has been reported that the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has prepared a bridge course, which will be taken up after the first two weeks for all classes.