The remaining students should continue studying online. But there is a problem with online teaching in the second most populous country in the world: Less than half of the nearly 1.4 billion Indians have access to the Internet.
In connection with the school closings and widespread poverty as a result of the pandemic, the United Nations is warning of an increase in child labor and child marriages. Nevertheless, the reopening of the schools was not a big political issue – also because many rich families are afraid of sending their unvaccinated children to school, they have good internet at home and the children in the extended family are looked after. The long closures are likely to have widened the gap between rich and poor.
The corona numbers in India are now relatively low again. The resumption of school operations is regulated differently in the various states. In New Delhi, state schools opened from the 9th grade in September – on Monday all other grades as well. Private schools decide for themselves. Many are still closed.