Photos: Schools reopen in parts of India after 6 months

Students maintain social distancing as they attend a class in Guwahati, Assam. On March 17, 2020, most of the schools and colleges across the country were shut down as coronavirus pandemic struck India.

Students wearing protective face masks ride their bicycles as they head to their school to attend their classes after authorities ordered schools to reopen voluntarily for classes 9 to 12, amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Nalbari town in the northeastern state of Assam, India.

Students hold consent letters from their parents to attend school in Srinagar on 21, 2020 as schools reopened for Classes 9 to 12, but the entire responsibility for the safety of the students will be on the parents. In a bizarre move, the Directorate of School Education has devised an undertaking to be furnished by the parents, which puts the entire responsibility for the safety of children on the parents. The undertaking also says that the parents will provide face masks, sanitizers and also ensure that the children do not wear any belts, rings, wrist watches, etc., those could become causes for the spread of the coronavirus infection.

The reopening is only partial and in select states, as per the guidelines issued by the Central and the State Government. Schools and colleges within containment zones, however, would continue to remain closed. Online classes would also continue for all students even if schools reopen.

A student gets her body temperature check at the entrance gate of the Angelika Higher Secondary school in Guwahati. After Central Government gave its nod to partially reopen schools and colleges from September 21, many states have permitted the educational institutes to reopen from today. Though majority of states have abstained from reopening of schools, states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland have allowed the students of classes 9 to 12 to return to classes.

A teacher helps a student to wash hands before attending a class. It is important to note that while the schools have been permitted to open, no regular classes are allowd still. Also, a maximum 50% staff - both teaching and non-teaching staff is allowed.

A teacher (R) sprays sanitiser on the hands of student entering a school in Srinagar.

Teachers work in a staff room at a government high school in Hyderabad. The schools are required to follow cleaning protocols as well as ensure proper social distancing of the students. Teachers and students would be required to wear masks at all times and sanitize their hands.

The government also made it clear that it is not mandatory for educational institutions to resume schools from Monday. The government had asked the states to take the final call on resuming classes amid the coronavirus pandemic. Above, teachers arrive at Kothi Bagh Higher secondary school in Srinagar.

As for colleges, the higher educational institutes for many states continue to remain closed. Only the institutes for professional courses which require laboratory work have been permitted to re-open.

As some states have decided to reopen schools for students of classes 9 to 12, it is of paramount importance to counsel the parents about the precautionary measure and the dos and don'ts of sending their wards to school.

Students maintain social distancing as they attend a class, after schools reopened partially in Andhra Pradesh as part of Unlock 4.0 guidelines, in Vijayawada.

Students arrive to attend class at Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Gurugram.

A teacher sits in an empty classroom as he prepares for online teaching at a government high school in Hyderabad.