new delhi a ddma constituted panel has recommended reopening schools for classes 6 to 8 in delhi with 50 per cent student strength as it noted that there has been no reported instances of increased local transmission of covid19 due to reopening classes 9 to 12 according to minutes of a ddma meetingthe panel constituted to chalk out a detailed plan and standard operating procedures sops for reopening schools also noted that attendance of senior class students has increased up to 80 per cent and around 95 per cent teachers and school staff have been vaccinated against covid19 according to the minutes which were published on tuesdaythe 25th meeting of the delhi disaster management authority ddma to discuss the covid19 situation in the national capital was held on september 29 lieutenant governor anil baijal who chaired the meeting had announced that a decision regarding reopening of schools for classes 6 to 8 will be taken after the festival seasonthe director for education had said at the meeting no reported instance of any increased local transmission of covid19 in delhi due to reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 there has been steady increase in attendance of students approximately 80 per cent physically attending schoolsthe official had said that approximately 95 per cent teachers and other staff of schools have been vaccinated and covidappropriate behaviour cab is being strictly followed in all schoolsthe joint committee has recommended that schools may be reopened for classes 6 to 8 from october 1 and attendance to be voluntary and with parental consent only only 50 per cent of students to be called to schools the director education had saidblended mode of teaching learning process online and offline should be continued vaccination of teachers and other staff in schools should be prioritised the official had saidschools may resume transport facility for students with 50 per cent seating capacity and following cab the director education had said in the meetingexperts present at the september 29 meeting had also opined that the next the two to three months are very critical in view of festivals like navratra dusshera and diwalivk paul member niti aayog suggested a call on reopening of schools may be taken after the festival season as by that time there would be higher coverage of vaccination as well according to the minutes of the ddma meetinghe stated that the next two to three months are very critical as festivals like navratra dusshera and diwali are approaching during these times people tend to move and congregate in markets for shopping community celebration of festivals also takes place the meeting minutes statedaiims director randeep guleria had also observed that it would be safer to open schools after diwali as there would be a number of holidays in the coming festival months and as such there would be no impact on studies of studentsbalram bhargava dg director general icmr suggested that there should be 100 per cent vaccination of all teachers and staff associated with the