Gujarat Education Department Orders Promotion Of School Students

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat Education Department ordered the promotion of all school students from class one to ninth and eleventh to next class due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Secretary at the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office, Ashwani Kumar said, "All the students -- from Classes I to IX, and XIth -- shall be elevated to the next standards due to the present situation because of Covid-19 epidemic."

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The decision was a huge relief for students as well as their parents concerned about the examinations amid the coronavirus scare. 

Following the lockdown in the state, all teachers were prohibited attending schools and offices, said Kumar. He further said, "The government has decided to go for the bare minimum governance, as we are opting for as little physical proximity of people as possible. In all the government departments and offices, if the administration can do away with 10 percent of the staff for functioning, it should be done."

"We are also ensuring that there is no shortage of essential commodities, like milk, bread, fruits and vegetables. People need not panic and start stocking as no inconvenience will be caused. Of the 1,600 Amul parlors across the state, more than 1,000 are in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara. We are assessing and ensuring adequate milk supply," he added. 

A special task force, comprising the Food and Civil Supplies Secretary, the MD of the Civil Supplies Corporation, the Registrar of Cooperatives, the APMC Director, will review the situation everyday at 12 noon.

Kumar said, "To strengthen the system, the district civil supply officers have been named nodal officer for the district."

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Food and Civil Supplies Secretary, Mohammed Shahid said, "Around 17,000 fair price shops (FPSs) are providing essential commodities in the state. The FPS owners have assured us to supply the goods to the public, keeping in mind the Covid-19 safety guidelines."