At a time when the controversy regarding conduct of JEE Main and NEET exams has become a national issue, all eyes were on the contents of Unlock 4.0 with special attention to the much-deliberated topic of reopening educational institutions. There was a considerable fear among parents whether the hardline stand exercised in JEE/NEET might not see a repetition in this case also. Thankfully, a sigh of relief has come as schools and educational institutions have been allowed to remain shut till September 30 although online classes will continue. This is a logical decision if viewed in the light of the current Covid-19 exigencies. Each day there are new records, only to be broken the very next day and the figures of recoveries which have crossed 2.7 million currently and also the fatality rate dropping to 1.79% will hardly elicit any real assurance. As on Sunday as per the Union Health Ministry’s bulletin, the country’s Covid-19 caseload tally has crossed the 3.5-million mark with an addition of 78,761 new cases and 948 deaths in the last 24 hours. With such escalating discomfort, there is no question of weighing options of reopening of educational institutions.

As per details of Unlock 4.0 plan in terms of commencement of usual educational activities, regular classroom-based educational activities will remain suspended in schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutes including coaching centres till September 30. While a certain amount of waiver has been given to the states and UTs to permit up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to schools at a time only for online teaching/tele-counselling and related works, the return of rationality, which is gradually becoming a rarity nowadays has been well-accepted by parents and academia. To reflect the overall current standings of the states and UTs regarding reopening of normal mode of education, it must be said that there is very little unanimity. Those who have shown enthusiasm and have decided to disregard the Covid realities will have to face hard questions if anything disastrous happens. It can be recalled that many states which had earlier planned lifting the shutters of their educational institutions from August or September have been compelled to think again, given the unstoppable march of the pandemic.

While it’s a delicate process that requires a deep assessment of the prevailing conditions, to ensure there is a maximum make good of the vacuum created by this unprecedented disruption, alternate means such as e-learning has to be stressed upon. Although it will be challenging particularly for Arunachal which is far from the ‘Digital India’ dream, efforts must continue. But in any case, the irrationality that has marked the JEE-NEET episode must not be given any room.