A screengrab of a news channel has gone viral on social media claiming that Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to close schools and colleges till December 31, 2020.
The Facebook screengrab read, “गृह मंत्रालय का बोहोत बड़ा फैसला- 31 दिसंबर तक सभी पुरे देश में सभी स्कूल और कॉलेज बंद रहेंगे”
(Translation: Big decision by Home Ministry – All schools and colleges will be closed till 31 December)

Another similar post was found here.

FACT CHECK

NewsMobile fact-checked the above post and found it to be FAKE.
We searched for information on Ministry of Home Affairs official website but couldn’t find any information related to closure of schools and colleges till December 31, 2020. Also, no such notice has been released by Home Ministry.

Moreover, we also searched on the website of the Education Ministry but couldn’t find any related information or notification.

Further, we also checked social media accounts of Ministry of Home Affairs and Education Ministry but couldn’t find anything which lends credibility to the viral post.
On digging further, we found an article by NDTV dated November 23, 2020, claiming that Himachal Pradesh government has decided to keep all schools and colleges closed till December 31.

We also found a Tweet from India Today on November 22, 2020, claiming that schools in Aurangabad city in Maharashtra will remain closed till January 3, while schools in rural areas of the district will be reopened on November 23.

The schools in #Aurangabad city in #Maharashtra will remain closed till January 3, while the schools in the rural areas of the district will be reopened on November 23.#Coronavirus https://t.co/2CnMBswUqa

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) November 22, 2020

Also, according to a report by Livemint, “for re-opening of schools, the government has given states and Union Territories the authority to make a decision to reopen their institutions in a graded manner.”
However, we found a tweet by PIB dated November 23, 2020, stating that Home Ministry has not issued any order for closure of schools and colleges till December 31.

दावा : एक खबर में दावा किया जा रहा है कि गृह मंत्रालय ने 31 दिसंबर तक स्कूल व कॉलेज बंद करने का फैसला लिया है।#PIBFactCheck : यह दावा फ़र्ज़ी है। गृह मंत्रालय ने ऐसा कोई आदेश जारी नहीं किया है। pic.twitter.com/Snagyrv0ni

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) November 23, 2020

Hence, the news about closure of all schools and colleges till December 31 is fake. Don’t fall for fake claims as it is misleading.

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