Schools in tricity chalking out plan to reopen with precautions

CHANDIGARH: Making use of oddeven scheme, combining online with face to face, providing sanitizers at every point, and training on social distancing—these are a handful of practices that various schools of tricity are planning to adopt after the lockdown ends and institutes reopen.

Niyati Chitkara, principal of Chitkara International School, said, “The reopening of the school would require infrastructural changes. It should be done in phases with skeletal faculty and students to begin with.”

Reema Dewan, principal of Delhi Public School, Chandigarh, said, “Limited students, staggered recess timings, no functions or assemblies, thermal scanning, and using masks, gloves and sanitizers will become the new norm.”

Nitin Goyal, president of Chandigarh Parents Association, said, “Social distancing is impossible even at 50% strength. Even if the schools open, the parents are not willing to send kids just yet.”

The summer vacations in UT government schools will be over by May 14. Rubinderjit Singh Brar, director school education, said, “We could start with senior classes in shifts of 50% student strength subject to the approval of competent authorities.”

President of Panchkula Public Schools Association Piyush Punj said, “Already, schools are struggling with unpaid fees. To provide disinfectants, sanitizers etc, we will need some monetary support from the government.”