Schools, colleges and offices will re-open on November 29 in India’s national capital Delhi, the state’s environment said on Wednesday, as the city’s air quality showed signs of marginal improvement.

Gopal Rai also said that only CNG and electric vehicles, barring those engaged in essential services, will be allowed to enter Delhi from November 27.

The ban on the entry of vehicles operating on other fuels will remain till December 3, he said.

Rai urged government staff to use public transport.

"We hired private CNG buses recently. We have decided to use them to ferry employees from government residential colonies such as Gulabi Bagh and Nimri Colony," he said.

The government will also start a shuttle bus service from the Delhi Secretariat to ITO and Indraprastha metro stations for its employees.

"The air quality has improved over the last three days. The city's AQI is similar to pre-Diwali days," he said.

Schools and other institutes have been shut since November 15 due to ‘severe’ air pollution levels.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/red-dots-over-delhi-nasa-shares-satellite-images-of-dangerous-pollution-levels-in-indian-capital-430548">Red dots over Delhi: Nasa shares satellite images of dangerous pollution levels in Indian capital</a>

The Directorate of Education had earlier announced that schools, colleges as well as government offices will remain closed till further orders, adding that online education will continue in the meantime.

After nearly 19 months of closure due to the pandemic, Delhi schools reopened for all classes from November 1. But the city government on November 13 ordered the closure of all educational institutions and announced several others measures to combat air pollution and minimise its health effects.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-air-quality-in-very-poor-category-says-pollution-board-430816">Delhi's air quality in 'very poor' category, says pollution board</a>

The ban on construction and demolition activities was lifted on Monday in view of an improvement in the air quality and inconvenience caused to workers.

Meanwhile, &nbsp;Delhi's air quality slipped into the "very poor" category on Wednesday as low temperatures and slow surface winds allowed the accumulation of pollutants.

Strong winds on Sunday and Monday had led to an improvement in the air quality.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor SAFAR said slow local surface winds will reduce dispersion of pollutants over the next three days, leading to deterioration in air quality.

A slight improvement is likely from November 27 with an increase in local surface wind speed.

(With inputs from agencies)

Schools, colleges and offices will re-open on November 29 in India’s national capital Delhi, the state’s environment said on Wednesday, as the city’s air quality showed signs of marginal improvement.

Schools, colleges and offices will re-open on November 29 in India’s national capital Delhi, the state’s environment said on Wednesday, as the city’s air quality showed signs of marginal improvement. Gopal Rai also said that only CNG and electric vehicles, barring those engaged in essential services, will be allowed to enter Delhi from November 27. The ban on the entry of vehicles operating on other fuels will remain till December 3, he said. Rai urged government staff to use public transport. "We hired private CNG buses recently. We have decided to use them to ferry employees from government residential colonies such as Gulabi Bagh and Nimri Colony," he said. The government will also start a shuttle bus service from the Delhi Secretariat to ITO and Indraprastha metro stations for its employees. "The air quality has improved over the last three days. The city's AQI is similar to pre-Diwali days," he said. Schools and other institutes have been shut since November 15 due to ‘severe’ air pollution levels. Also read | Red dots over Delhi: Nasa shares satellite images of dangerous pollution levels in Indian capital The Directorate of Education had earlier announced that schools, colleges as well as government offices will remain closed till further orders, adding that online education will continue in the meantime. After nearly 19 months of closure due to the pandemic, Delhi schools reopened for all classes from November 1. But the city government on November 13 ordered the closure of all educational institutions and announced several others measures to combat air pollution and minimise its health effects. Also read | Delhi's air quality in 'very poor' category, says pollution board The ban on construction and demolition activities was lifted on Monday in view of an improvement in the air quality and inconvenience caused to workers. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality slipped into the "very poor" category on Wednesday as low temperatures and slow surface winds allowed the accumulation of pollutants. Strong winds on Sunday and Monday had led to an improvement in the air quality. The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor SAFAR said slow local surface winds will reduce dispersion of pollutants over the next three days, leading to deterioration in air quality. A slight improvement is likely from November 27 with an increase in local surface wind speed. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi to reopen schools, offices on Nov 29 as air quality improves marginally

Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that extremism in Pakistan lies not in madrasas but in schools and colleges, where teachers were hired as part of a conspiracy to “basically teach extremism” during the 80s and 90s.

Major reason behind extremism in Pakistan is schools & colleges, not madrasas, says Fawad Chaudhary

Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that extremism in the country originates from ordinary schools and colleges and not Madrasas.

Ordinary schools, colleges behind extremism not Madrasas: Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhary

In a striking revelation, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that extremism was not rooted in madrasas, but schools and colleges in Pakistan. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the minister, the teachers were hired in the 80s and 90s as part of a plot to "basically teach extremism".&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-lahore-declared-worlds-most-polluted-city-people-choking-on-acrid-smog-430090" hreflang="en">Lahore declared world's most polluted city, people choking on acrid smog</a>

Chaudhry, who was addressing a consultative conference on terrorism in Islamabad, said that the students of "ordinary schools and colleges" had been involved in incidents of extremism in Pakistan and not of madrasas. &nbsp;

Chaudhry added, "You closed their (school and college students') minds. If you cultivate a society where an opposing view is immediately declared kufr (heresy) ... how can you present an opposing view?" &nbsp;

"And if no opposing views are tolerated, how will you bring a soft change (in society)?" the minister asked.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-frees-hardline-islamist-under-a-deal-to-end-violence-430353" hreflang="en">Pakistan frees hardline Islamist under a deal to end violence</a>&nbsp;

Scholars in Pakistan are afraid of speaking up. The society itself has to rectify the narrative of extremism, claimed the minister. &nbsp;

"We don't have any potential threat from India. We have the sixth largest army in the world, we are an atomic power, and India cannot compete with us. We face no danger from America. We face no danger from Europe. The biggest danger we face [today] is from within [Pakistan]," added Chaudhry. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a striking revelation, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that extremism was not rooted in madrasas, but schools and colleges in Pakistan.

In a striking revelation, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that extremism was not rooted in madrasas, but schools and colleges in Pakistan. According to the minister, the teachers were hired in the 80s and 90s as part of a plot to "basically teach extremism". Also Read: Lahore declared world's most polluted city, people choking on acrid smog Chaudhry, who was addressing a consultative conference on terrorism in Islamabad, said that the students of "ordinary schools and colleges" had been involved in incidents of extremism in Pakistan and not of madrasas. Chaudhry added, "You closed their (school and college students') minds. If you cultivate a society where an opposing view is immediately declared kufr (heresy) ... how can you present an opposing view?" "And if no opposing views are tolerated, how will you bring a soft change (in society)?" the minister asked. Also Read: Pakistan frees hardline Islamist under a deal to end violence Scholars in Pakistan are afraid of speaking up. The society itself has to rectify the narrative of extremism, claimed the minister. "We don't have any potential threat from India. We have the sixth largest army in the world, we are an atomic power, and India cannot compete with us. We face no danger from America. We face no danger from Europe. The biggest danger we face [today] is from within [Pakistan]," added Chaudhry. (With inputs from agencies)

Extremism in Pak not rooted in madrasas, but schools, colleges, says Minister

A secondary school in London, Ark All Saints academy is trying to stop its students from using “basically” at the beginning of sentences and it is also trying to get rid of phrases such as “oh my days” in a crackdown on “fillers” and “slang” in the classroom.&nbsp;

The school has come up with a list of “banned” language which includes “he cut his eyes at me”. Also, the students should not be able to use “that’s long”, which can mean something that is tedious, or “that’s a neck” which indicates a comment or action is stupid. “Bare”, “wow”, “cuss” and “oh my God” are also out.

Expressions that must not be used at the beginning of sentences include, “ermmm”, “because”, “no”, “like”, “say”, “you see”, “you know”, and “basically”.

The list has drawn criticism from linguists. They have described it as “crude and shortsighted … a disservice and discredit to young people”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobel-prize-season-returns-under-pandemic-spotlight-417257">Also read |&nbsp;Nobel prize season returns under pandemic spotlight</a>

However, the teachers argue that this guides the students to use language that fits more formal situations.

The school said the specific words and phrases on the list were selected because they were “showing up a lot in pupils’ work” and it stressed the importance of pupils expressing themselves “clearly and accurately”.

Lucy Frame, the principal at the school in Camberwell, south-east London, was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "The development of reading and speaking skills is a central part of what drives our school to help our students learn effectively and fulfil their potential in academic and non-academic ways."

“None of the words or phrases listed are banned from general use in our school or when our students are interacting socially.

But this list is used in some formal learning settings to help students understand the importance of expressing themselves clearly and accurately, not least through written language in examinations.”

A secondary school in London, Ark All Saints academy is trying to stop its students from using “basically” at the beginning of sentences and it is also trying to get rid of phrases such as “oh my days” in a crackdown on “fillers” and “slang” in the classroom.

A secondary school in London, Ark All Saints academy is trying to stop its students from using “basically” at the beginning of sentences and it is also trying to get rid of phrases such as “oh my days” in a crackdown on “fillers” and “slang” in the classroom. The school has come up with a list of “banned” language which includes “he cut his eyes at me”. Also, the students should not be able to use “that’s long”, which can mean something that is tedious, or “that’s a neck” which indicates a comment or action is stupid. “Bare”, “wow”, “cuss” and “oh my God” are also out. Expressions that must not be used at the beginning of sentences include, “ermmm”, “because”, “no”, “like”, “say”, “you see”, “you know”, and “basically”. The list has drawn criticism from linguists. They have described it as “crude and shortsighted … a disservice and discredit to young people”. Also read | Nobel prize season returns under pandemic spotlight However, the teachers argue that this guides the students to use language that fits more formal situations. The school said the specific words and phrases on the list were selected because they were “showing up a lot in pupils’ work” and it stressed the importance of pupils expressing themselves “clearly and accurately”. Lucy Frame, the principal at the school in Camberwell, south-east London, was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "The development of reading and speaking skills is a central part of what drives our school to help our students learn effectively and fulfil their potential in academic and non-academic ways." “None of the words or phrases listed are banned from general use in our school or when our students are interacting socially. But this list is used in some formal learning settings to help students understand the importance of expressing themselves clearly and accurately, not least through written language in examinations.”

London school bans slang terms to 'guide' the students

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms on Sunday as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns.

The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia.

In the capital Dhaka, students at one school&nbsp;were welcomed with flowers and sweets, and told to wear masks and sanitise their hands. Some hugged each other in excitement.

"We are really excited to be back at school," 15-year-old Muntasir Ahmed told AFP as he entered the campus.

"I am hoping to physically see all of my friends and teachers, not through a laptop window today."

At the gate, school officials checked the body temperatures of students before allowing them to enter.

The school's vice principal, Dewan Tamziduzzaman, said he "didn't expect such a big number to be turning up on the first day".

Only 41 percent of Bangladesh's 169 million population have smartphones, according to the country's telecom operators' association, which means millions of children cannot access online classes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/unaccompanied-children-evacuated-from-afghanistan-in-qatar-limbo-412300">Also read |&nbsp;Unaccompanied children evacuated from Afghanistan in Qatar limbo</a>

Even with smartphones, students in many of Bangladesh's rural districts do not have the high-speed internet access usually required for e-learning.

'Enormous setbacks'

UNICEF warned in a report released Thursday that the pandemic has accentuated "alarming inequities" for more than 430 million children in the region.

"School closures in South Asia have forced hundreds of millions of children and their teachers to transition to remote learning in a region with low connectivity and device affordability," UNICEF's regional director, George Laryea-Adjei, said in a statement.

"As a result, children have suffered enormous setbacks in their learning journey."

In India, 80 percent of children aged 14-18 years said they learnt less than when they were in a physical classroom, according to UNICEF.

Among children aged between six and 13 years, 42 percent said they had no access to remote learning.

"Their future is at stake," Deepu Singh, a farmer in India's Jharkhand state, said last week of his children aged nine and 10.

The pair have not been to school in a year and have no internet access at home, Singh told AFP, adding: "I do not know English. I cannot help him (my son), even if I want to."

Students in the rest of the region were similarly impacted, UNICEF reported.

In Pakistan, 23 percent of young children had no access to any device for remote learning.

Some towns in Nepal have been broadcasting radio lessons due to the lack of internet access.

"We are (in) a dangerous situation," Nepalese schoolteacher Rajani K.C. told AFP last week.

"If the pandemic continues and the academic sector loses more years, what kind of human resource will the country have in the future?"

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms on Sunday as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns. The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia.

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms on Sunday as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns. The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia. In the capital Dhaka, students at one school were welcomed with flowers and sweets, and told to wear masks and sanitise their hands. Some hugged each other in excitement. "We are really excited to be back at school," 15-year-old Muntasir Ahmed told AFP as he entered the campus. "I am hoping to physically see all of my friends and teachers, not through a laptop window today." At the gate, school officials checked the body temperatures of students before allowing them to enter. The school's vice principal, Dewan Tamziduzzaman, said he "didn't expect such a big number to be turning up on the first day". Only 41 percent of Bangladesh's 169 million population have smartphones, according to the country's telecom operators' association, which means millions of children cannot access online classes. Also read | Unaccompanied children evacuated from Afghanistan in Qatar limbo Even with smartphones, students in many of Bangladesh's rural districts do not have the high-speed internet access usually required for e-learning. 'Enormous setbacks' UNICEF warned in a report released Thursday that the pandemic has accentuated "alarming inequities" for more than 430 million children in the region. "School closures in South Asia have forced hundreds of millions of children and their teachers to transition to remote learning in a region with low connectivity and device affordability," UNICEF's regional director, George Laryea-Adjei, said in a statement. "As a result, children have suffered enormous setbacks in their learning journey." In India, 80 percent of children aged 14-18 years said they learnt less than when they were in a physical classroom, according to UNICEF. Among children aged between six and 13 years, 42 percent said they had no access to remote learning. "Their future is at stake," Deepu Singh, a farmer in India's Jharkhand state, said last week of his children aged nine and 10. The pair have not been to school in a year and have no internet access at home, Singh told AFP, adding: "I do not know English. I cannot help him (my son), even if I want to." Students in the rest of the region were similarly impacted, UNICEF reported. In Pakistan, 23 percent of young children had no access to any device for remote learning. Some towns in Nepal have been broadcasting radio lessons due to the lack of internet access. "We are (in) a dangerous situation," Nepalese schoolteacher Rajani K.C. told AFP last week. "If the pandemic continues and the academic sector loses more years, what kind of human resource will the country have in the future?"

Bangladesh schools reopen after 18-month COVID-19 shutdown

Schools reopened in&nbsp;India's Himalayan desert town of Leh and IT hub Bengaluru for students belonging to classes 6 to 8 on Monday&nbsp;as the number of coronavirus cases declined.

India, in March last year, had ordered the closure of schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, and pushed for classes to move online, to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

But with COVID-19 cases declining, many schools were reopened for higher classes earlier in some states, as part of the unlocking process.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-over-38000-covid-19-cases-lowest-daily-fatalities-in-167-days-411079">Also read |&nbsp;India reports over 38,000 COVID-19 cases; lowest daily fatalities in 167 days</a>

Students had to go through thermal scanning and sanitisation as they reached school to attend classes in Ladakh and Bengaluru after studying online for months due to coronavirus.

Classes for higher secondary final year and some courses in colleges also commenced in northeastern Guwahati city on Monday.

India&nbsp;reported 38,948 new COVID-19 infections and 219 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Schools reopened in India's Himalayan desert town of Leh and IT hub Bengaluru for students belonging to classes 6 to 8 on Monday as the number of coronavirus cases declined.

Schools reopened in India's Himalayan desert town of Leh and IT hub Bengaluru for students belonging to classes 6 to 8 on Monday as the number of coronavirus cases declined. India, in March last year, had ordered the closure of schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, and pushed for classes to move online, to curb the spread of the deadly virus. But with COVID-19 cases declining, many schools were reopened for higher classes earlier in some states, as part of the unlocking process. Also read | India reports over 38,000 COVID-19 cases; lowest daily fatalities in 167 days Students had to go through thermal scanning and sanitisation as they reached school to attend classes in Ladakh and Bengaluru after studying online for months due to coronavirus. Classes for higher secondary final year and some courses in colleges also commenced in northeastern Guwahati city on Monday. India reported 38,948 new COVID-19 infections and 219 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Schools reopen in parts of India in further easing of restrictions

As the students around the world begin going back to schools, experts have urged parents to abandon fears of Covid in schools and send children back to classrooms for their wellbeing.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England’s medical director, said that while she understands the fears of parents about sending children back to school, they have to understand that schools are not "drivers"&nbsp;of Covid infection.

Experts are suggesting that as more and more adults are getting vaccinated against coronavirus, schools are now becoming a much safer place for students.

"We understand, and I understand fully, that parents may be nervous but I would stress again that schools are not the drivers and not the hubs of infection,"&nbsp;Doyle said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-zealand-eases-covid-19-curbs-in-most-parts-auckland-remains-under-a-lockdown-410156">WATCH |</a>

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She also added that all educational institutions are practicing several processes and regulations such as cleaning, ventilation and more to ensure safety of children and teachers against coronavirus.

Schools have also been asked to conduct mass testing of secondary school kids to make sure any infected child does not come in contact with others at the school.

UK’s Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has urged parents to let children have a "much more normal education experience" as many studies have shown that mental health and learning capabilities of children have declined due to online teaching.

However, many people still believe that if students are sent back to schools they risk catching COVID-19, which could also lead to another surge.

Now with several countries providing vaccines for children above the age of 12, governments are getting hopeful of going back to normal, especially in the education sector.

As the students around the world begin going back to schools, experts have urged parents to abandon fears of Covid in schools and send children back to classrooms for their wellbeing.

As the students around the world begin going back to schools, experts have urged parents to abandon fears of Covid in schools and send children back to classrooms for their wellbeing. Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England’s medical director, said that while she understands the fears of parents about sending children back to school, they have to understand that schools are not "drivers" of Covid infection. Experts are suggesting that as more and more adults are getting vaccinated against coronavirus, schools are now becoming a much safer place for students. "We understand, and I understand fully, that parents may be nervous but I would stress again that schools are not the drivers and not the hubs of infection," Doyle said. WATCH | She also added that all educational institutions are practicing several processes and regulations such as cleaning, ventilation and more to ensure safety of children and teachers against coronavirus. Schools have also been asked to conduct mass testing of secondary school kids to make sure any infected child does not come in contact with others at the school. UK’s Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has urged parents to let children have a "much more normal education experience" as many studies have shown that mental health and learning capabilities of children have declined due to online teaching. However, many people still believe that if students are sent back to schools they risk catching COVID-19, which could also lead to another surge. Now with several countries providing vaccines for children above the age of 12, governments are getting hopeful of going back to normal, especially in the education sector.

Schools are not 'drivers' of Covid infections in UK: Experts

Hundreds of schools in Jakarta threw their doors open to students Monday, as some parents resisted the return to in-person learning weeks after&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;overtook India and Brazil as the pandemic's global epicentre.

In Jakarta, the preliminary reopening applies to students from just 610 of more than 10,000 schools, from pre-school through high school.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-becomes-epicentre-of-asias-covid-19-outbreak-second-in-region-to-top-100000-deaths-402911">Indonesia becomes epicentre of Asia's COVID-19 outbreak, second in region to top 100000 deaths</a>

Elsewhere, in-person learning has resumed in less badly hit areas at the local government's discretion. But most classrooms across the vast archipelago nation remain shut and a work from home order for non-essential sectors is in effect in the worst-hit areas.

Some parents in the capital have opted to keep their children home, even after a year and a half of online classes.

"My daughter has not been vaccinated and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta variant</a> is spreading like crazy," Asmara Wreksono, the mother of a third-grader attending one of the reopened schools told AFP.&nbsp;

"I feel bad because my daughter misses her friends, but my priority is to keep my child alive and healthy," she added.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-ex-minister-sentenced-for-12-years-over-covid-aid-fraud-407822">Indonesia ex-minister sentenced for 12 years over Covid aid fraud</a>

Indonesia&nbsp;reported its worst coronavirus surge in July when the highly infectious Delta variant ripped through the country, prompting lockdowns.

Cases have since tapered, but in the past week, an average of more than 13,000 new cases have been registered daily.&nbsp;

Attempting to reassure nervous families, officials have pointed to strict health protocols, a cap of only 50 per cent capacity and high vaccination rates in the education sector.

Over 90 per cent of students aged 12 and older and 85 per cent of teachers and educators in the capital have been vaccinated, according to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

"We didn't decide to reopen the schools suddenly, there was an assessment," he told TVOne on Sunday.&nbsp;

He said the schools partaking in the reopening were selected because the teachers had all been vaccinated and the campuses had enough seats to facilitate social distancing.

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Since the pandemic began,&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;has registered more than four million virus cases and 132,000 deaths.

Just over 35 million of the country's 270 million people are fully <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">inoculated</a>.

Hundreds of schools in Jakarta threw their doors open to students Monday, as some parents resisted the return to in-person learning weeks after Indonesia overtook India and Brazil as the pandemic's global epicentre.

Hundreds of schools in Jakarta threw their doors open to students Monday, as some parents resisted the return to in-person learning weeks after Indonesia overtook India and Brazil as the pandemic's global epicentre. In Jakarta, the preliminary reopening applies to students from just 610 of more than 10,000 schools, from pre-school through high school. Also read | Indonesia becomes epicentre of Asia's COVID-19 outbreak, second in region to top 100000 deaths Elsewhere, in-person learning has resumed in less badly hit areas at the local government's discretion. But most classrooms across the vast archipelago nation remain shut and a work from home order for non-essential sectors is in effect in the worst-hit areas. Some parents in the capital have opted to keep their children home, even after a year and a half of online classes. "My daughter has not been vaccinated and the Delta variant is spreading like crazy," Asmara Wreksono, the mother of a third-grader attending one of the reopened schools told AFP. "I feel bad because my daughter misses her friends, but my priority is to keep my child alive and healthy," she added. Also read | Indonesia ex-minister sentenced for 12 years over Covid aid fraud Indonesia reported its worst coronavirus surge in July when the highly infectious Delta variant ripped through the country, prompting lockdowns. Cases have since tapered, but in the past week, an average of more than 13,000 new cases have been registered daily. Attempting to reassure nervous families, officials have pointed to strict health protocols, a cap of only 50 per cent capacity and high vaccination rates in the education sector. Over 90 per cent of students aged 12 and older and 85 per cent of teachers and educators in the capital have been vaccinated, according to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. "We didn't decide to reopen the schools suddenly, there was an assessment," he told TVOne on Sunday. He said the schools partaking in the reopening were selected because the teachers had all been vaccinated and the campuses had enough seats to facilitate social distancing. Since the pandemic began, Indonesia has registered more than four million virus cases and 132,000 deaths. Just over 35 million of the country's 270 million people are fully inoculated.

Indonesia's capital reopens some schools despite parent fears

Witnessing an improvement in the&nbsp;COVID-19 situation in Indian Capital, the&nbsp;government&nbsp;announced on Friday that schools for classes IX to XII, colleges and coaching institutions will reopen from September 1.

The government's decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The panel, which was&nbsp;set up by the DDMA earlier this week, submitted its report. It&nbsp;recommended a phase-wise reopening of schools in the national capital.

Watch: Some Sri Lankans opt for cardboard coffins amid COVID-19 surge

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Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said a final decision was yet to be made regarding junior classes, adding that a call would be taken after analysing the effect of reopening schools for senior classes.

The sources indicated that schools for classes VI to VIII may reopen from September 8.&nbsp;

In order to ensure the reopening does not lead to a spike in the cases again,&nbsp;the Delhi government has also directed private aided and unaided schools to vaccinate their teachers and staff ahead of the September 1 deadline.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/india-records-46759-covid-19-cases-509-deaths-408954" hreflang="en">India records 46,759 COVID-19 cases, 509 deaths</a>

The Directorate of Education of the city's government has also issued a circular in this regard. "It is the prime concern of Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi to ensure the vaccination of all teachers and staff working in schools of Delhi. Therefore, all the HOS/managers of private aided/unaided schools in Delhi, are hereby directed to ensure that their teachers and staff get vaccinated immediately," it read.

"In the above context, all the private aided/unaided schools are also advised to facilitate their teachers and staff by making special arrangements for vaccination at schools/cluster levels in consultation and coordination with concerned authorities," the circular said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Witnessing an improvement in the COVID-19 situation in Indian Capital, the government announced on Friday that schools for classes IX to XII, colleges and coaching institutions will reopen from September 1.

Witnessing an improvement in the COVID-19 situation in Indian Capital, the government announced on Friday that schools for classes IX to XII, colleges and coaching institutions will reopen from September 1. The government's decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The panel, which was set up by the DDMA earlier this week, submitted its report. It recommended a phase-wise reopening of schools in the national capital. Watch: Some Sri Lankans opt for cardboard coffins amid COVID-19 surge × Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said a final decision was yet to be made regarding junior classes, adding that a call would be taken after analysing the effect of reopening schools for senior classes. The sources indicated that schools for classes VI to VIII may reopen from September 8. In order to ensure the reopening does not lead to a spike in the cases again, the Delhi government has also directed private aided and unaided schools to vaccinate their teachers and staff ahead of the September 1 deadline. Also Read: India records 46,759 COVID-19 cases, 509 deaths The Directorate of Education of the city's government has also issued a circular in this regard. "It is the prime concern of Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi to ensure the vaccination of all teachers and staff working in schools of Delhi. Therefore, all the HOS/managers of private aided/unaided schools in Delhi, are hereby directed to ensure that their teachers and staff get vaccinated immediately," it read. "In the above context, all the private aided/unaided schools are also advised to facilitate their teachers and staff by making special arrangements for vaccination at schools/cluster levels in consultation and coordination with concerned authorities," the circular said. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Capital reopens schools for classes IX to XII from September 1

Returning to school this fall, children should be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a> if eligible, wear masks or prepare to risk getting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a>.

Big questions loom over the upcoming back-to-school season: Should children be required to wear masks? Should children go to in-person classes at all?

If we send children to school without masks, we increase their risk of acquiring <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>. Some could suffer illness or die. If we close schools, millions of children will suffer learning loss, and many of them may suffer lifelong effects on their physical and mental health.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/study-suggests-that-children-may-have-a-weaker-immune-response-to-covid-404487">Study suggests that Children may have a weaker immune response to Covid</a>

For more than a year, we’ve worked with North Carolina school districts and charter schools, studying the rate of new Covid cases, the efficacy of mitigation measures such as masking and the increased risks of participating in school-sponsored sports. We have learned&nbsp;a few things&nbsp;for certain: Although vaccination is the best way to prevent COVID-19, universal masking is a close second, and with masking in place, in-school learning is safe and more effective than remote instruction, regardless of community rates of infection.

Vaccination is the strongest method for preventing the ill effects of Covid, but students under 12 years of age are ineligible for the vaccines. Masking, then, is one of the best, most readily available methods to protect them from the disease, with universal masking being one of the most effective and efficient strategies for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/children-at-risk-of-long-covid-symptoms-new-study-finds-381039">Children at risk of long-Covid symptoms, new study finds</a>

Universal masking in schools can save lives. Voluntary masking in schools will likely be much less effective and could lead to school closures and community transmission. This summer, we’ve seen that voluntary masking has failed in some schools&nbsp;in Missouri&nbsp;and&nbsp;North Carolina, which saw increases in COVID-19 cases and days missed because of quarantines, prompting several districts to reinstate mask mandates.

How do we know that masking helps prevent spread among unvaccinated people in schools? In July 2020, we and our colleagues developed the&nbsp;ABC Science Collaborative&nbsp;to pair scientists with school and community leaders to make sure that school leaders had the most up-to-date, scientific information pertaining to COVID-19 and K-12 schools. In conjunction with North Carolina, the ABC Science Collaborative collected data from more than one million students and staff members in the state’s schools from March to June 2021. Certain school districts in North Carolina were required, by bipartisan legislation, to submit infection data to the ABC Science Collaborative as a trusted third party.

During that time, more than 7,000 children and adults acquired the coronavirus and attended school while infectious. Because of close contact with those cases, more than 40,000 people required quarantine. Through contact tracing and testing, however, we found only 363 additional children and adults acquired the coronavirus. We believe this low rate of transmission occurred because of the mask-on-mask school environment: Both the infected person and the close contact wore masks. Schools provided this protection without expensive screening tests for the coronavirus or massive overhauls in ventilation systems.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/british-study-finds-almost-one-in-seven-suffer-long-covid-symptoms-374862" hreflang="en">British study finds almost one in seven suffer long Covid symptoms</a>

Because North Carolina had a mask mandate for all K-12 schools, we could not compare masked schools to unmasked schools. To understand the preventive impact masks can have, we looked outside North Carolina for comparisons. Data from our research and from studies conducted in&nbsp;Utah,&nbsp;Missouri&nbsp;and&nbsp;Wisconsin&nbsp;shows that school transmission rates of coronavirus were low when schools enforced mask mandates. By contrast, one school in Israel without a mask mandate or proper social distancing protocols&nbsp;reported&nbsp;an outbreak of COVID-19 involving 153 students and 25 staff members.

Recent outbreaks at youth camps in&nbsp;Texas, Illinois and Florida show how quickly COVID-19 can spread among adolescents and adults who are largely unmasked and mostly unvaccinated, with the possibility of spreading into surrounding communities. The potential for this kind of community spread was the reason schools closed their doors in March 2020.

With the evidence now clear that universal masking is linked to lower spread, why not require universal masking? Why seek to gather hundreds of unvaccinated, unmasked individuals in an enclosed space for several hours a day, five days a week?

Schools that do not require masks will have more coronavirus transmission. And while mortality from Covid was only&nbsp;two per 100,000 school-age&nbsp;children&nbsp;as of April, with more than 50 million public school children in the United States, that could still mean many avoidable deaths of children in a year.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-surge-continues-to-make-alarming-inroads-across-us-404473/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Once vaccination is available for all children, districts can serve their students best by creating incentives to encourage masking and vaccination. For example, if universal masking is enforced or a student is vaccinated, it’s reasonable for schools to decide not to require quarantining or testing after exposure for asymptomatic children and adults. Similarly, schools may consider allowing vaccinated students who participate in extracurricular activities to continue even if they’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive. School districts that do not have universal masking should keep using strategies like ventilation and social distancing and continue to perform routine testing for unvaccinated students.

In schools that choose to open without mask mandates and with limited vaccine uptakes, increased Covid is likely. Until all children can get vaccinated, masks remain a well-researched solution for lowering the risk of getting Covid. Children should be in school, and we should embrace the measures that can keep them safe.

Returning to school this fall, children should be vaccinated if eligible, wear masks or prepare to risk getting Covid. Big questions loom over the upcoming back-to-school season: Should children be required to wear masks?

Returning to school this fall, children should be vaccinated if eligible, wear masks or prepare to risk getting Covid. Big questions loom over the upcoming back-to-school season: Should children be required to wear masks? Should children go to in-person classes at all? If we send children to school without masks, we increase their risk of acquiring COVID-19. Some could suffer illness or die. If we close schools, millions of children will suffer learning loss, and many of them may suffer lifelong effects on their physical and mental health. Also read | Study suggests that Children may have a weaker immune response to Covid For more than a year, we’ve worked with North Carolina school districts and charter schools, studying the rate of new Covid cases, the efficacy of mitigation measures such as masking and the increased risks of participating in school-sponsored sports. We have learned a few things for certain: Although vaccination is the best way to prevent COVID-19, universal masking is a close second, and with masking in place, in-school learning is safe and more effective than remote instruction, regardless of community rates of infection. Vaccination is the strongest method for preventing the ill effects of Covid, but students under 12 years of age are ineligible for the vaccines. Masking, then, is one of the best, most readily available methods to protect them from the disease, with universal masking being one of the most effective and efficient strategies for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools. Also read | Children at risk of long-Covid symptoms, new study finds Universal masking in schools can save lives. Voluntary masking in schools will likely be much less effective and could lead to school closures and community transmission. This summer, we’ve seen that voluntary masking has failed in some schools in Missouri and North Carolina, which saw increases in COVID-19 cases and days missed because of quarantines, prompting several districts to reinstate mask mandates. How do we know that masking helps prevent spread among unvaccinated people in schools? In July 2020, we and our colleagues developed the ABC Science Collaborative to pair scientists with school and community leaders to make sure that school leaders had the most up-to-date, scientific information pertaining to COVID-19 and K-12 schools. In conjunction with North Carolina, the ABC Science Collaborative collected data from more than one million students and staff members in the state’s schools from March to June 2021. Certain school districts in North Carolina were required, by bipartisan legislation, to submit infection data to the ABC Science Collaborative as a trusted third party. During that time, more than 7,000 children and adults acquired the coronavirus and attended school while infectious. Because of close contact with those cases, more than 40,000 people required quarantine. Through contact tracing and testing, however, we found only 363 additional children and adults acquired the coronavirus. We believe this low rate of transmission occurred because of the mask-on-mask school environment: Both the infected person and the close contact wore masks. Schools provided this protection without expensive screening tests for the coronavirus or massive overhauls in ventilation systems. Also read: British study finds almost one in seven suffer long Covid symptoms Because North Carolina had a mask mandate for all K-12 schools, we could not compare masked schools to unmasked schools. To understand the preventive impact masks can have, we looked outside North Carolina for comparisons. Data from our research and from studies conducted in Utah, Missouri and Wisconsin shows that school transmission rates of coronavirus were low when schools enforced mask mandates. By contrast, one school in Israel without a mask mandate or proper social distancing protocols reported an outbreak of COVID-19 involving 153 students and 25 staff members. Recent outbreaks at youth camps in Texas, Illinois and Florida show how quickly COVID-19 can spread among adolescents and adults who are largely unmasked and mostly unvaccinated, with the possibility of spreading into surrounding communities. The potential for this kind of community spread was the reason schools closed their doors in March 2020. With the evidence now clear that universal masking is linked to lower spread, why not require universal masking? Why seek to gather hundreds of unvaccinated, unmasked individuals in an enclosed space for several hours a day, five days a week? Schools that do not require masks will have more coronavirus transmission. And while mortality from Covid was only two per 100,000 school-age children as of April, with more than 50 million public school children in the United States, that could still mean many avoidable deaths of children in a year. Once vaccination is available for all children, districts can serve their students best by creating incentives to encourage masking and vaccination. For example, if universal masking is enforced or a student is vaccinated, it’s reasonable for schools to decide not to require quarantining or testing after exposure for asymptomatic children and adults. Similarly, schools may consider allowing vaccinated students who participate in extracurricular activities to continue even if they’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive. School districts that do not have universal masking should keep using strategies like ventilation and social distancing and continue to perform routine testing for unvaccinated students. In schools that choose to open without mask mandates and with limited vaccine uptakes, increased Covid is likely. Until all children can get vaccinated, masks remain a well-researched solution for lowering the risk of getting Covid. Children should be in school, and we should embrace the measures that can keep them safe.

We studied one million students. This is what we learned about masking.

Schools have begun reopening in the United States with most states leaving it up to local schools to decide whether to require masks.

United States: Schools reopen with masks optional in many US classrooms

Hundreds of&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;in&nbsp;Canada's capital called on Saturday for a&nbsp;probe&nbsp;into&nbsp;a boarding&nbsp;school&nbsp;system for&nbsp;indigenous&nbsp;children, as outrage built after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at several of the facilities.

Until the 1990s, some 150,000&nbsp;indigenous, Inuit and Metis youths were forcibly enrolled in the&nbsp;schools, where students were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers who stripped them of their culture and language.

"Indigenous&nbsp;Peoples need truth and justice," MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq wrote on Instagram.

"That means a special prosecutor and a fully-funded independent investigation, with international observers present,&nbsp;into&nbsp;Canada's crimes against&nbsp;Indigenous&nbsp;Peoples," she added, calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Justice Minister David Lametti "to stop making excuses" and launch a&nbsp;probe.

The demonstrators gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa after two lawmakers from the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) called for a protest.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-unmarked-graves-found-at-another-indigenous-school-in-canada-393533">Also read |&nbsp;Hundreds of unmarked graves found at another Indigenous school in Canada</a>

The NDP called on Trudeau's government in early July to appoint a special prosecutor to lead an independent investigation&nbsp;into&nbsp;the country's painful history of residential&nbsp;schools&nbsp;for&nbsp;indigenous&nbsp;children.

"People have been shocked by the number of graves that have been found... These are not accidents, these are not tragedies they represent a policy that was about the destruction of a people," NDP lawmaker Charlie Angus told public broadcaster CBC.

Since late May, more than 1,000 unmarked graves were found near former residential&nbsp;schools&nbsp;-- discoveries that have outraged the country.

Thousands died at the&nbsp;schools, and many were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, according to an investigative commission that concluded the Canadian government engaged in "cultural genocide."

More than 4,000 died of disease and neglect in the&nbsp;schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;had committed "cultural genocide

Hundreds of protesters in Canada's capital called on Saturday for a probe into a boarding school system for indigenous children, as outrage built after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at several of the facilities.

Hundreds of protesters in Canada's capital called on Saturday for a probe into a boarding school system for indigenous children, as outrage built after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at several of the facilities. Until the 1990s, some 150,000 indigenous, Inuit and Metis youths were forcibly enrolled in the schools, where students were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers who stripped them of their culture and language. "Indigenous Peoples need truth and justice," MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq wrote on Instagram. "That means a special prosecutor and a fully-funded independent investigation, with international observers present, into Canada's crimes against Indigenous Peoples," she added, calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Justice Minister David Lametti "to stop making excuses" and launch a probe. The demonstrators gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa after two lawmakers from the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) called for a protest. Also read | Hundreds of unmarked graves found at another Indigenous school in Canada The NDP called on Trudeau's government in early July to appoint a special prosecutor to lead an independent investigation into the country's painful history of residential schools for indigenous children. "People have been shocked by the number of graves that have been found... These are not accidents, these are not tragedies they represent a policy that was about the destruction of a people," NDP lawmaker Charlie Angus told public broadcaster CBC. Since late May, more than 1,000 unmarked graves were found near former residential schools -- discoveries that have outraged the country. Thousands died at the schools, and many were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, according to an investigative commission that concluded the Canadian government engaged in "cultural genocide." More than 4,000 died of disease and neglect in the schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded Canada had committed "cultural genocide

Protesters demand probe into Canada indigenous schools

The Bangladesh government has extended the closure of all schools and colleges till June 30, in view of a surge in coronavirus cases, according to a media report.

On March 17 last year, Bangladesh had closed all schools to contain the spread of coronavirus. All examinations were cancelled.

In a notification on Saturday, the Ministry of Education said all primary, secondary, higher secondary and college-level institutions, including Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, would remain closed till June 30, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

Last month, Education Minister Dipu Moni said in-class teaching could be reopened on June 13, based on a review of the virus outbreak.

"The COVID-19 situation worsened in some districts and many areas have been locked down. Considering the safety of students, teachers, staff and guardians, and upon the advice of COVID-19 technical committee, the shutdown has been extended," the newspaper quoted the notification.

Health experts said Bangladesh would experience a fresh wave of COVID-19 later in the month, fuelled by the virus variant B1.617.2, which was first identified in India.

So far, COVID-19 has claimed 13,032 lives along with 822,849 confirmed infections in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Bangladesh government has extended the closure of all schools and colleges till June 30, in view of a surge in coronavirus cases, according to a media report.

The Bangladesh government has extended the closure of all schools and colleges till June 30, in view of a surge in coronavirus cases, according to a media report. On March 17 last year, Bangladesh had closed all schools to contain the spread of coronavirus. All examinations were cancelled. In a notification on Saturday, the Ministry of Education said all primary, secondary, higher secondary and college-level institutions, including Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, would remain closed till June 30, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Last month, Education Minister Dipu Moni said in-class teaching could be reopened on June 13, based on a review of the virus outbreak. "The COVID-19 situation worsened in some districts and many areas have been locked down. Considering the safety of students, teachers, staff and guardians, and upon the advice of COVID-19 technical committee, the shutdown has been extended," the newspaper quoted the notification. Health experts said Bangladesh would experience a fresh wave of COVID-19 later in the month, fuelled by the virus variant B1.617.2, which was first identified in India. So far, COVID-19 has claimed 13,032 lives along with 822,849 confirmed infections in Bangladesh. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: Schools, colleges to remain closed till June 30 in Bangladesh

Majority of the provinces in Pakistan, including Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday reopened its educational institutions after the country reported a drop in the number of positive cases of coronavirus.

The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the main body monitoring the country's battle against COVID-19, had initially allowed reopening of educational institutions from May 24 in all districts with less than five per cent positivity rate but delayed it for the rest of the country until June 7.

"Educational institutions reopened in Pakistan from Monday as the country reported low cases recently," an official statement said.

While Punjab has opened all of its educational schools, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have opened its schools for students from standard 9 and above, the Express Tribune reported.

Sindh has decided not to open the school for its primary students and decided to wait for a few more time to let the pandemic settle down, the report said.

Sindh's education minister Saeed Ghani said the decision will be revisited after improvement in the pandemic. The ministry of National Health Services reported 58 deaths in the last 24 hours due to COVID-19, taking the number of fatalities to 21,323.

The country also reported 1,490 new positive cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 933,630. It said the number of active patients was 47,376 as so far 864,931 patients have recovered.

Majority of the provinces in Pakistan, including Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday reopened its educational institutions after the country reported a drop in the number of positive cases of coronavirus.

Majority of the provinces in Pakistan, including Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday reopened its educational institutions after the country reported a drop in the number of positive cases of coronavirus. The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the main body monitoring the country's battle against COVID-19, had initially allowed reopening of educational institutions from May 24 in all districts with less than five per cent positivity rate but delayed it for the rest of the country until June 7. "Educational institutions reopened in Pakistan from Monday as the country reported low cases recently," an official statement said. While Punjab has opened all of its educational schools, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have opened its schools for students from standard 9 and above, the Express Tribune reported. Sindh has decided not to open the school for its primary students and decided to wait for a few more time to let the pandemic settle down, the report said. Sindh's education minister Saeed Ghani said the decision will be revisited after improvement in the pandemic. The ministry of National Health Services reported 58 deaths in the last 24 hours due to COVID-19, taking the number of fatalities to 21,323. The country also reported 1,490 new positive cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 933,630. It said the number of active patients was 47,376 as so far 864,931 patients have recovered.

Several provinces in Pak reopen schools after drop in COVID-19 cases

Students have been the silent sufferers of this pandemic. Graduating students in India are staring at uncertainty. In Mexico, students are protesting in-person learning. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: New York to open schools in full capacity

US educators are doing everything they can to track down high school students who stopped showing up to classes and to help them get the credits needed to graduate, amid an anticipated surge in the country’s dropout rate during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

There isn’t data available yet on how the pandemic has affected the nation’s overall dropout rate, 2019 is the last year for which it is available, and many school officials say it’s too early to know how many students who stopped logging on for distance learning don’t plan to return. &nbsp;

But soaring numbers of students, who are failing classes or are chronically absent have experts fearing the worst, and schools have been busy tracking down wayward seniors through social media, knocking on their doors, assigning staff to help them make up for lost time and, in some cases, even relaxing graduation requirements.&nbsp;

“When students drop out, they typically look for an out, an opportunity to leave. And this has provided that, unfortunately,” Sandy Addis, chairman of the National Dropout Prevention Center, said recently, referring to the pandemic. His group believes the dropout rate has spiked this year and will remain high for years.&nbsp;

At one high school in Kansas City, Kansas, staff members have made thousands of calls to the families of at-risk students, said Troy Pitsch, who supervises high school principals in the city.&nbsp;

“If we lose a student, it is going to be after kicking and screaming and fighting tooth and nail for them,” Pitsch said.&nbsp;

Many districts were forgiving last spring when schools shut down abruptly, freezing grades unless students wanted to improve them. That made this year the first for which schools would feel the full effects of the pandemic on student performance and engagement.&nbsp;

The early signs aren’t encouraging. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization warned that the pandemic had put 24 million children worldwide at risk of dropping out of school. And the pandemic’s effects could erase gains the US made in reducing its dropout rate, which fell from 9.3% in 2007 to 5.1% in 2019, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Not finishing high school significantly hurts a person’s earning potential, with dropouts bringing home an average of $150 less per week than graduates, according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.&nbsp;

To keep students on track, some local governments and school systems have waived certain testing requirements for graduation or changed grading policies so that missed assignments aren’t as damaging. But such leniency carries the risk of watering down academic standards, said Russell Rumberger, a professor emeritus of education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who has written about dropouts.&nbsp;

“If they let you pass with a D and you don’t have to do very much to do it, maybe technically you are getting a diploma, but you are not getting the same type of diploma you may have gotten prior to the pandemic, when the standards were higher,” he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

US educators are doing everything they can to track down high school students who stopped showing up to classes and to help them get the credits needed to graduate, amid an anticipated surge in the country’s dropout rate during the coronavirus pandemic.

US educators are doing everything they can to track down high school students who stopped showing up to classes and to help them get the credits needed to graduate, amid an anticipated surge in the country’s dropout rate during the coronavirus pandemic. There isn’t data available yet on how the pandemic has affected the nation’s overall dropout rate, 2019 is the last year for which it is available, and many school officials say it’s too early to know how many students who stopped logging on for distance learning don’t plan to return. But soaring numbers of students, who are failing classes or are chronically absent have experts fearing the worst, and schools have been busy tracking down wayward seniors through social media, knocking on their doors, assigning staff to help them make up for lost time and, in some cases, even relaxing graduation requirements. “When students drop out, they typically look for an out, an opportunity to leave. And this has provided that, unfortunately,” Sandy Addis, chairman of the National Dropout Prevention Center, said recently, referring to the pandemic. His group believes the dropout rate has spiked this year and will remain high for years. At one high school in Kansas City, Kansas, staff members have made thousands of calls to the families of at-risk students, said Troy Pitsch, who supervises high school principals in the city. “If we lose a student, it is going to be after kicking and screaming and fighting tooth and nail for them,” Pitsch said. Many districts were forgiving last spring when schools shut down abruptly, freezing grades unless students wanted to improve them. That made this year the first for which schools would feel the full effects of the pandemic on student performance and engagement. The early signs aren’t encouraging. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization warned that the pandemic had put 24 million children worldwide at risk of dropping out of school. And the pandemic’s effects could erase gains the US made in reducing its dropout rate, which fell from 9.3% in 2007 to 5.1% in 2019, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Not finishing high school significantly hurts a person’s earning potential, with dropouts bringing home an average of $150 less per week than graduates, according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. To keep students on track, some local governments and school systems have waived certain testing requirements for graduation or changed grading policies so that missed assignments aren’t as damaging. But such leniency carries the risk of watering down academic standards, said Russell Rumberger, a professor emeritus of education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who has written about dropouts. “If they let you pass with a D and you don’t have to do very much to do it, maybe technically you are getting a diploma, but you are not getting the same type of diploma you may have gotten prior to the pandemic, when the standards were higher,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

US schools fight to keep students amid fear of dropout surge due to Covid

Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb Covid-19 infections.&nbsp;

The protests, the first of any significance against Mario Draghi's national unity government that took office last month, were held in more than 35 squares nationwide including Rome's Piazza del Popolo and Milan's central Piazza Duomo.&nbsp;

Demonstrators in Rome wore dunce's caps to indicate the impact of the closures on students' education, while in Milan pupils' messages and placards were propped against their school rucksacks placed on the ground.&nbsp;

Numbers at each venue were limited due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.&nbsp;

"Open schools, whatever it takes," read one placard held aloft by a child in Rome, in reference to Draghi's famous promise to save the euro when he was European Central Bank chief in 2012.&nbsp;

Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, when Draghi ramped up efforts to control the virus, with students attending lessons online from home.&nbsp;

"We are asking for one thing: that our schools be given the status of essential public services and immediately reopened," the Rome arm of the 'Open Schools' national network that organised the demonstrations said in a statement.&nbsp;

Since Italy's outbreak began 13 months ago, schools have closed and re-opened at various times depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries.&nbsp;

The latest closures were the last straw for millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for child care.&nbsp;

The government says the closures are needed due to rising infection rates, and particularly, the increasing prevalence of the variant first discovered in the UK, in which contagion is high among younger age groups.&nbsp;

Draghi promised on Friday that schools would be the first thing to reopen when current Covid restrictions are eased.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb Covid-19 infections.

Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb Covid-19 infections. The protests, the first of any significance against Mario Draghi's national unity government that took office last month, were held in more than 35 squares nationwide including Rome's Piazza del Popolo and Milan's central Piazza Duomo. Demonstrators in Rome wore dunce's caps to indicate the impact of the closures on students' education, while in Milan pupils' messages and placards were propped against their school rucksacks placed on the ground. Numbers at each venue were limited due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings. "Open schools, whatever it takes," read one placard held aloft by a child in Rome, in reference to Draghi's famous promise to save the euro when he was European Central Bank chief in 2012. Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, when Draghi ramped up efforts to control the virus, with students attending lessons online from home. "We are asking for one thing: that our schools be given the status of essential public services and immediately reopened," the Rome arm of the 'Open Schools' national network that organised the demonstrations said in a statement. Since Italy's outbreak began 13 months ago, schools have closed and re-opened at various times depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries. The latest closures were the last straw for millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for child care. The government says the closures are needed due to rising infection rates, and particularly, the increasing prevalence of the variant first discovered in the UK, in which contagion is high among younger age groups. Draghi promised on Friday that schools would be the first thing to reopen when current Covid restrictions are eased. (With inputs from agencies)

Italian parents, children protest against Covid school closures 

The South African government has postponed the reopening of schools across the country as it battles the second wave of Coronavirus infection.

South Africa's education department postpones reopening of schools

French teachers staged a protest in Paris on Tuesday (November 10) calling for more measures to be implemented in schools as the country battles a second wave of novel coronavirus infections.

French teachers demand better COVID-19 safety measures for schools

The United Kingdom is currently in the middle of a controversy over free meals for school children in the country. Half term for school students is set to begin in England soon, and the country has refused to extend its free meals scheme for school children.

The government had extended its free meals scheme to children during the Easter holidays this year. After campaigning by high profile celebrities like the football player Rashford, the government extended the free meals programme.

Owing to the government's refusal to continue the programme, councils across the country are providing vouchers for meals, with hundreds of businesses offering parcels to vulnerable children.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-police-deal-with-incident-aboard-tanker-off-english-coast-337900" hreflang="en">UK police deal with incident aboard tanker off English coast</a>

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary had referred to the community-driven campaigns as "brilliant", while adding that the best way to provide help to those in need was through councils in conversation with BBC.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently under pressure to extend the programme, with the opposition also pressurising him into doing the same.

Three other constituents of the United Kingdom - Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have introduced food voucher schemes.

The government is facing increasing pressure from external factors as well. Manchester United's petition calling for the extension of meal schemes had gained traction online, with over 870,000 signatures by Monday.

Hancock told BBC that Rashford and Boris Johnson had been in touch, saying "there has been communication between the two". He also expected the matter to be followed up.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-pub-bans-rishi-sunak-for-life-after-he-voted-against-free-school-meals-337685" hreflang="en">UK pub bans Rishi Sunak for life after he voted against free school meals</a>

In conversation with the BBC, Hancock also defended the government's stance in terms of its refusal to extend help programmes. According to Hancock, the government has increased Universal Credit, and has also allocated £63m to authorities at the local level.

In mid-October, Conservative MPs voted against Labour Party's attempt to continue the free meals schemes by 322 votes to 261.

In 2019, about 1.3 million children availed free meals scheme in England - this constitutes about 15% of school students in the country.

According to the Food Foundation, 900,000 children in England have tried to avail free meals since the pandemic began.

The United Kingdom is currently in the middle of a controversy over free meals for school children in the country. Half term for school students is set to begin in England soon, and the country has refused to extend its free meals scheme for school children.

The United Kingdom is currently in the middle of a controversy over free meals for school children in the country. Half term for school students is set to begin in England soon, and the country has refused to extend its free meals scheme for school children. The government had extended its free meals scheme to children during the Easter holidays this year. After campaigning by high profile celebrities like the football player Rashford, the government extended the free meals programme. Owing to the government's refusal to continue the programme, councils across the country are providing vouchers for meals, with hundreds of businesses offering parcels to vulnerable children. Also read: UK police deal with incident aboard tanker off English coast Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary had referred to the community-driven campaigns as "brilliant", while adding that the best way to provide help to those in need was through councils in conversation with BBC. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently under pressure to extend the programme, with the opposition also pressurising him into doing the same. Three other constituents of the United Kingdom - Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have introduced food voucher schemes. The government is facing increasing pressure from external factors as well. Manchester United's petition calling for the extension of meal schemes had gained traction online, with over 870,000 signatures by Monday. Hancock told BBC that Rashford and Boris Johnson had been in touch, saying "there has been communication between the two". He also expected the matter to be followed up. Also read: UK pub bans Rishi Sunak for life after he voted against free school meals In conversation with the BBC, Hancock also defended the government's stance in terms of its refusal to extend help programmes. According to Hancock, the government has increased Universal Credit, and has also allocated £63m to authorities at the local level. In mid-October, Conservative MPs voted against Labour Party's attempt to continue the free meals schemes by 322 votes to 261. In 2019, about 1.3 million children availed free meals scheme in England - this constitutes about 15% of school students in the country. According to the Food Foundation, 900,000 children in England have tried to avail free meals since the pandemic began.

England: Debate over free school meals accelerates as half term begins

In the poor Spanish quarter, teachers have taken to the narrow, windy streets to hold their lessons with pupils socially distancing outdoors.

Naples teachers bring socially distanced school to streets and balconies

The coronavirus pandemic kept more than 250 million children away from school. Is reopening of schools during pandemic the right move?

COVID-19: Is reopening of schools during pandemic the right move?

Millions of children return to schools across world: Here's the list of countries

China is slowly trying to wipe out the culture and heritage of the Mongolian people of the Inner Mongolia region.

&nbsp;China’s policy aimed at replacing Mongolian with Mandarin&nbsp;as the language of instruction in all core subjects. 
&nbsp; 
And for Mongolian families, this policy is a step too far. They consider their language as one of the last surviving markers of their Mongolian identity. They do not want to learn about the world through China's prism but they are being forced to.

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&nbsp; 
In protest, students have started boycotting classes. Police officials are trying to send them back. Parents are clashing with the police, the images are moving — to say the least.

Entire families — out on the streets — fighting the might of the Chinese regime. This is nothing less than a civil disobedience movement.It has spread throughout Inner Mongolia.

Even in Ulaanbaatar — the capital of Mongolia. Hundreds of people are standing in solidarity with their ethnic Mongolian brethren. These are visuals of a demonstration that was held outside the Mongolian foreign ministry yesterday.

These people want their government to speak for the plight of every ethnic Mongolian and they want their voices to be heard internationally.&nbsp;

"I am proud of our brothers &amp; sisters, who are very few but are fighting hard against a billion. That is why we have to send them our love and support. I am afraid that they might get in danger. And we are here to ensure that it does not happen,” said a school teacher Tseren Tuvshinjargal.

"Our traditional script is registered in the Unesco’s list of intangible cultural heritage under the name of the Mongolian nation. The inner Mongolians preserve their Mongolian ethnic immunity with its language. That’s why I want their voice is heard to the international community,” said Banzragch Bazarsad, Member of Bosoo Khukh Mongol, a Mongolian nationalist organization.

China is slowly trying to wipe out the culture and heritage of the Mongolian people of the Inner Mongolia region. China’s policy aimed at replacing Mongolian with Mandarin as the language of instruction in all core subjects.

China is slowly trying to wipe out the culture and heritage of the Mongolian people of the Inner Mongolia region. China’s policy aimed at replacing Mongolian with Mandarin as the language of instruction in all core subjects. And for Mongolian families, this policy is a step too far. They consider their language as one of the last surviving markers of their Mongolian identity. They do not want to learn about the world through China's prism but they are being forced to. In protest, students have started boycotting classes. Police officials are trying to send them back. Parents are clashing with the police, the images are moving — to say the least. Entire families — out on the streets — fighting the might of the Chinese regime. This is nothing less than a civil disobedience movement.It has spread throughout Inner Mongolia. Even in Ulaanbaatar — the capital of Mongolia. Hundreds of people are standing in solidarity with their ethnic Mongolian brethren. These are visuals of a demonstration that was held outside the Mongolian foreign ministry yesterday. These people want their government to speak for the plight of every ethnic Mongolian and they want their voices to be heard internationally. "I am proud of our brothers & sisters, who are very few but are fighting hard against a billion. That is why we have to send them our love and support. I am afraid that they might get in danger. And we are here to ensure that it does not happen,” said a school teacher Tseren Tuvshinjargal. "Our traditional script is registered in the Unesco’s list of intangible cultural heritage under the name of the Mongolian nation. The inner Mongolians preserve their Mongolian ethnic immunity with its language. That’s why I want their voice is heard to the international community,” said Banzragch Bazarsad, Member of Bosoo Khukh Mongol, a Mongolian nationalist organization.

Protests erupt as China moves to end Mongolian-medium teaching in schools

Britain's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on Monday (August 24) cited a warning over the weekend from medical advisers who said that students faced bigger risks from missing out on their education than from catching COVID-19.

British pupils school return 'safe' insists education minister

With a surge in coronavirus cases, Australian government has been trying every possible way to contain the spread of the virus.

A new regulation issued by the government is a temporary ban for children from playing any kind of wind instrument or participating in choir, claiming these could lead to spread of the infection.

"All group singing and/or other chanting activities, as well as the use of wind instruments in group settings, are not permitted," the local education authority of New South Wales said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-state-premier-apologises-for-cruise-ship-failures-after-covid-19-spike-321071">Also read|&nbsp;Australian state premier apologises for cruise ship failures after COVID-19 spike</a>

In addition to this, dancing and recorders will also be prohibited. The authorities have also asked schools to postpone or cancel all formals, exhibitions and other cultural events that had been planned for the next few months.

"School formals, dances, graduation or other social events are not permitted," the New South Wales education department said.

While the schools have reopened in Sydney, the authorities want to make sure that all protocols are followed so that the students returning to school can study in a safe environment.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-husband-saves-wife-by-punching-shark-320930">Also read|&nbsp;Australia: Husband saves wife by punching shark</a>

Schools have been instructed to regularly sanitise the premises and check body temperature of every pupil and staff member reporting to school.

The country's second-largest city, Melbourne, is in lockdown and still reporting hundreds of new cases daily, although the number is decreasing.&nbsp;

Australia has been facing dangers of a second-wave in the country after its main cities recorded a surge in coronavirus cases months after local cases decreased to almost zero. Many of Melbourne's infections have been linked to aged care homes -- where death rates are rising following a peak in cases over the last two weeks.

Australia has recorded more than 23,000 cases of COVID-19 and 421 fatalities so far in the pandemic.

With a surge in coronavirus cases, Australian government has been trying every possible way to contain the spread of the virus. A new regulation issued by the government is a temporary ban for children from playing any kind of wind instrument or participating in choir, claiming these could lead to spread of the infection.

With a surge in coronavirus cases, Australian government has been trying every possible way to contain the spread of the virus. A new regulation issued by the government is a temporary ban for children from playing any kind of wind instrument or participating in choir, claiming these could lead to spread of the infection. "All group singing and/or other chanting activities, as well as the use of wind instruments in group settings, are not permitted," the local education authority of New South Wales said. Also read| Australian state premier apologises for cruise ship failures after COVID-19 spike In addition to this, dancing and recorders will also be prohibited. The authorities have also asked schools to postpone or cancel all formals, exhibitions and other cultural events that had been planned for the next few months. "School formals, dances, graduation or other social events are not permitted," the New South Wales education department said. While the schools have reopened in Sydney, the authorities want to make sure that all protocols are followed so that the students returning to school can study in a safe environment. Also read| Australia: Husband saves wife by punching shark Schools have been instructed to regularly sanitise the premises and check body temperature of every pupil and staff member reporting to school. The country's second-largest city, Melbourne, is in lockdown and still reporting hundreds of new cases daily, although the number is decreasing. Australia has been facing dangers of a second-wave in the country after its main cities recorded a surge in coronavirus cases months after local cases decreased to almost zero. Many of Melbourne's infections have been linked to aged care homes -- where death rates are rising following a peak in cases over the last two weeks. Australia has recorded more than 23,000 cases of COVID-19 and 421 fatalities so far in the pandemic.

COVID-19: Australian state bans choir practices and wind instruments in schools

The United States opened schools and tried to resume in-person learning. Within two weeks - 97,000 students tested positive. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you why this is not the right time to reopen schools.

Gravitas: Why schools shouldn't reopen right now

Cars to funeral boxes: Americans protest against reopening of schools

Earlier this week, the Indian government put Chinese institutes under a review that outraged Beijing. Two things are being reviewed. First, the local chapters of Confucius institutes in India.

Earlier this week, the Indian government put Chinese institutes under a review that outraged Beijing. Two things are being reviewed. First, the local chapters of Confucius institutes in India. Second, agreements between Indian and Chinese institutes. According to China, India is politicizing Chinese institutes. They feel the review is unfair. But, here is why it's necessary. China’s meddling in education is seen as a threat to academic freedom abroad. A report from human rights watch came out last year. The report calls Confucius institutes as extensions of the Chinese government. Where censorship is rampant and hiring of teachers is based on political loyalty. China has opened up several of these institutes abroad. According to human rights watch, many teachers feel uncomfortable with the presence of such schools on their campus. They feel their teaching could be compromised by them. At certain places --- the Chinese influence is quite apparent. In 2019, Victoria University cancelled the screening of a documentary critical of Confucius institutes after the university’s Confucius institute complained. The screening was cancelled because it was critical of Chinese institutes. According to reports, India has three such institutes. All of them are essentially extensions of the Chinese government. Reportedly, Indian intelligence agencies have raised security concerned around Chinese institutes. China says its schools promote Chinese language teaching and people-to-people contacts. But, there are three “Ts” that teachers can’t talk about. Tibet Taiwan Tiananmen At any Chinese schools in the world, these three subjects are considered off-limits. Allegedly, Chinese schools have often put pressure on their host universities abroad. They proactively pressurize host universities to silence anything deemed controversial by Beijing. In 2014, references of Taiwan were removed from a conference programme in Portugal. Pages were torn from the handbook. In 2018, China played censor at a conference in the United States too. Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, a journalist, was invited to speak at the savannah state university. On her bio, Allen had mentioned she had reported from Taiwan. But, when the event materials were printed --- the reference to Taiwan was removed. Because the event sponsor was a Chinese institute. China funds schools in the name of culture and people-to-people ties. Then, it imposes censorship on campus. The entire operation is orchestrated from Beijing by the communist party. Chinese institutes are run by the Hanban. This is a Chinese body. That’s part of China’s ministry of education. The Hanban is dominated by officials of the communist party. The executive council of the Hanban has 12 representatives from China’s top state agencies. This includes the ministry of foreign affairs as well as the state press and publishing administration. The director-general of Hanban is part of China’s state council. The highest organ of state power in China. By 2017, these institutes had a budget of 314 million dollars. Reportedly, Chinese institutes are now present in at least 548 universities. In almost 1,200 schools and across 154 countries now. More than one million students study in these institutes and over 46,000 teachers work there. As of last year, China planned to have one thousand such institutes.

Indian government to review China's Confucius institutes

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