Keeping in mind the sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, physical classes from 1 to 9 in Tamil Nadu have been stopped. All academic activities will now be conducted in online mode. However, students of classes 10, 11, and 12 have been exempted from this order. As per a circular released earlier, all schools were supposed to remain closed till January 10, 2022. However, the date has now been extended by the TN state government. Similarly, colleges and higher educational institutions have also been asked to shut down and postpone the examinations until January 20, 2022.
While the offline classes for 10, 11, and 12 students will continue, the government has also initiated the vaccination drive for those students who fall in the age group of 15 to 18. The reason why the physical classes will resume is due to facilitate the vaccination process. Taking into consideration the upcoming board exams, these students of the specified classes will have to appear for offline classes and also participate in the vaccination process at the respective schools.
In terms of the college examinations, the government has barred private medical and allied medical colleges. Students who will be appearing for any university or college examination have been asked to get in touch with their respective institutes. Meanwhile, all college and university examinations stand postponed. This decision has been given by the TN chief minister MK Stalin.
The government has further imposed Sunday curfews due to the rising COVID-19 cases. At present, the country has entered the third phase of the pandemic and the cases per day have crossed the 50,000 mark. Many other states including West Bengal and Maharashtra have already closed down the schools for physical classes. The vaccination process for the age group of 15 to 18 has already begun from January 03, 2022.
The statistics from the Health Ministry show that 01 crore students belonging to the age group of 15 to 18 have been inoculated with the first dose of vaccine. In many states, schools are now becoming vaccination centers. For the ones who are not yet vaccinated, the classes are shifting back to the online mode now.
TN state government has introduced fresh curbs that will come in effect from today, January 06 onwards. There will be 50% occupancy in the metros, buses, and trains. Events for the harvest festival ‘Pongal’ have been postponed. Devotees cannot go to the places of worship on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
