Schools partially open for seniors with 50% staff

Some schools will partially reopen for Classes 9-12 on Monday, as per the Unlock 4.0 guidelines of the Centre, but parents, students as well as teachers expressed reluctance to exposing themselves to Covid-19.

Half the staff members will be allowed to work from the school premises, and students, on a voluntary basis and with the consent of their parents, will be allowed to visit the school for doubt-clearing sessions, if needed.

Even as all government school teachers will start taking classes in a staggered manner from the school premises, as per a government order, private schools have decided to carry on with online classes until next month, instead of allowing anyone at the premises.

Glendale Academy has decided to allow management staff and draft a plan to call teachers when required, informed Minu Salooja, assistant director of the school. Meridian School has decided to not hold any sessions at the school until late next month.

Johnson Grammar School, Nacharam has prepared a timetable to allow students to visit the school for subject-wise doubt-clearing sessions. Private budget schools have decided to not open on Monday.

The decision has been taken considering concerns raised by teachers over exposure to the infection and the potential risk it would pose for their family members. Government school teachers have also requested exemption citing similar concerns. However, in the absence of state government guidelines in this regard, no exemption is likely to be provided, said Chava Ravi, Telangana State United Teachers Fede-ration (TSUTF) general secretary.

Government school teachers from various districts raised concerns with regard to the absence of sanitisation and deep cleaning at the premises.

From Page 1 A teacher on condition of anonymity said, “It is our duty to help the students in whatever way is required of us, but ensuring our safety and safety of children is the responsibility of the government. Even as Gram Panchayats have been taking care of cleaning and sanitisation at the school, not every school’s safety is being taken care of in various villages.” Teachers said the government has not provided masks or sanitisers to students or teachers despite the reopening. “Our safety is in our hands only it seems”, said another government school teacher.