In the wake of the projection of the second wave of COVID-19 in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has, on Thursday, revoked its own decision of reopening the schools and colleges in the state and said that the schools will not be reopened on November 16. The fresh decision of the government not to reopen the schools has come three days after it held discussions with the parents and teachers concerning the resumption. 

According to reports, when the state government announced the fresh set of relaxations earlier this month, it has said that the schools will be re-opened on November 16 for classes 9 to 12 and stated that the resumption, which has come after seven months, would be based on the standard operating procedures (SOP). However, the government got caught up with severe criticism and objections from the opposition parties, parents, and stakeholders on resuming the schools amid the fear of the possibilities of the second wave of the COVID-19 spread in the state. 

As the schools are asked to resume two days after Diwali as per the government's order, the stakeholders had condemned the government by noting that several northern states including Andhra Pradesh have been reporting more COVID-19 cases among students and staff after resuming the schools. They also had expressed their concerns that some of the states had witnessed a spike in the fresh cases following the Dussera festival and the stakeholders urged the Tamil Nadu government to defer the reopening of schools due to the possible second wave in the state after the Diwali holidays. 

Following the objection, the state government has organized the statewide meeting of parents and students to discuss and understand their concerns in reopening the schools. The meeting held on November 9 across the schools during which parents had expressed their suggestion on whether or not to resume the schools. The government said that it would decide further based on the feedback from the meeting. 

Three days after the meeting, the government has on Thursday (12.11.2020) said that it had received mixed responses from the parents and students on the opening of schools and colleges from November 16. In a press release, the government said that schools will not be reopened till further notice, through which it can be learned that the status quo will remain in the state where students will be sticking to the online classes. 

The government has stated that some of the countries are currently facing a second wave of the pandemic and that the state has to strengthen its measures to prevent a further spread of COVID-19. The reports say that the government has taken a wait and watch approach as the state has largely taken a break from the mandatory guidelines in the wake of the Diwali holidays. 

Along with revoking the order of reopening the schools, the state government has also canceled its previous announcement of giving permission for congregations of up to 100 persons for political, religious, and cultural events. On the other hand, regarding the resumption of colleges, the government said that the physical classes for final year post-graduation and research students pursuing science and technology courses will begin from December 2 and the rest of the physical classes in college will remain canceled.