LALITPUR: Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) has decided to allowed the schools shut down due to coronavirus pandemic to reopen at their convenience.

The meeting of education committee of the metropolis, held under the chairpersonship of Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan has decided to let the schools reopen.

Speaking about the decision Mayor Maharjan told that the schools can reopen at their convenience after sincere consultation with the School Management Committee, Parents Teachers Committee and the respective Ward offices of the Metropolis.

“We have granted the authority to the school management committee to decide the feasible date for school reopening, the committee will decide it in view of the physical infrastructure, student number and the pandemic situation in the locality,” Mayor Maharjan said following the meeting at his metropolis, “We feel it the best way to let the concerned schools decide in consultation with the stakeholders.”

He, however, added that all schools should abide by the health safety protocols enforced by the government.

Mayor Maharjan promised to provide the public schools the soap, water and masks required for abiding by health protocols.

There are around 250 schools in Lalitpur Metropolitan City, out of which 40 are the public schools.

All schools were shut down after the government imposed lockdown to stem the COVID-19 spread on March 24.

Most of the schools have been running virtual classes for more than five months now, yet,  it is believed that more than 60 percent children are not enrolled in the virtual classes.