Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has permitted schools to resume physical classes for grade 5 to 8 students from February 1, 2021. PMC Additional Commissioner Rubal Agarwal has confirmed the developments.

Agarwal said, "The state government education department had given a go-ahead for schools to reopen for class 5 to 8 students from January 27. However, schools need time to undertake and complete the maintenance works and make arrangements for sanitisation of premises. This work is going on at war footing. Hence we have decided to resume classes for grade 5 to 8 students from February 1."

State Minister for School Education Varsha Gaikwad had announced on January 15 that schools for students of class 5 to 8 will also start from January 27. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had given his approval for this decision. Schools for class 9 to 12 students were allowed to reopen from January 4.