Bhubaneswar: The primary schools in Odisha shut since last two years due to COVID-19 pandemic will reopen for students from January 3 next year, informed State School & Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash today.

"The State Government has decided to reopen around 27,000 schools from Class I to V from January 3, 2022. The schools, where Matric Summative Assessment-I is scheduled to be held between January 5 and 8, will reopen from January 10, 2022," Dash told reporters here.

As per the decision, the classes will be held from 9 am to 12 noon without break. The distribution of dry ration among students under the Mid-day meal scheme will continue as before till further order.

The primary schools will have to follow the same SoP issued for Class VI to Class XII, the Minister said.