Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has declared new orders permitting private and public schools in city limits to reopen from January 4. The schools will be scheduled to reopen for classes 9 to 12.

The administration had earlier postponed the reopening of schools and colleges in city area and said that they will continue to remain closed till January 3. The order issued on Thursday read, "It is compulsory for all schools and colleges to follow the COVID-19 rules and follow safety measures such as, oximeter checking, thermal screening of students and staff.”

The order further stated that the schools and colleges will also have to make sure that the seating provisions of the students are made in keeping with the physical distancing rules. RT-PCR tests for teachers and non-teaching staff have been made compulsory too.

Meanwhile, schools and colleges for Classes 9 to 12 have already reopened in the rural parts of district from November 23 in keeping with the state government's directives.

Some of the parents were not happy after the decision. One of the parents on the condition of anonymity questioned, "The administration must revise the decision. How can we send our children to schools as we do not have the vaccine for the infection? The children these days are in the good rhythm of learning online so why physical attendance?"