chools and colleges in Bengal will remain closed at least until August 31 and, “if the situation improves in August”, the state government might reopen them on alternate days in September, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

“Schools and colleges will remain closed now. There is no question of reopening the institutions in August. Coronavirus is at its peak now,” Mamata said at Nabanna.

“We have a target to reopen the institutions from September 5 — that happens to be the birthday of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and is observed as Teachers’ Day — if the situation permits, on alternate days for the next one month till Durga Puja. We might allow that only if the situation improves in August. But nothing can be done till August 31,” she added.

The directive applies to all state-aided and private schools, madrasas, colleges and universities, an official of the higher education department said.