With parents and students not inclined towards online classes, the Karnataka government on Thursday decided to impose a blanket ban on them for all children up to Class VII. "Karnataka government extends ban on online classes till 7th standard. Earlier, it was decided to not allow online classes till 5th standard," news agency ANI has reported.

The ban reportedly applies to all schools in the State regardless of their affiliation.

Why the ban? "The decision comes after complaints by parents about the increased strain and impact on the health of young children due to additional screen time," reports Livemint. It's also held by many that digital penetration is not universal and, therefore, exclusion of some sections of students will be a big deal if online classes become the only mode until schools are reopened.

While live classes are banned, recorded videos are not banned.

The decision has been welcomed by mental health experts as well as several educationists. Will Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, too, follow next?