Schools willing to reopen only for classes 10, 12: UT edu dept

UT EDUCATION DEPT HAD SOUGHT FEEDBACK FROM PRINCIPALS WHO SAID THEY WOULD REOPEN SCHOOLS ONLY FOR CLASSES 10 AND 12

CHANDIGARH:IN reply to the Union ministry of human resource development’s communique regarding reopening of schools, the UT education department on Tuesday said that schools were willing to open between August 15 to 31 for classes 10 and 12.

The ministry has asked states/uts to file their responses by July 20 regarding “what is the likely period when they will be comfortable with reopening of schools and what are the parents’ expectations from schools as and when they reopen”.

The education department in its reply said that parents were okay with August 15-31 timeline. Director school education,

Rubinderjit Singh Brar said, “This is only tentative. There wasn’t enough time to collect feedback from parents so we spoke to the principals of the schools and used Google forms. Before allowing schools, we will wait for home ministry and UT to give permission. We will also ask health experts.”

Brar added that schools were willing to reopen only for classes for 10 and 12.

Though yet to be finalised, schools think that they will be able to pull it off. President of Independent School Association HS Mamik said, “After months of lockdown, school administrations have started gaining experience. We will wait for whatever decision is taken and guidelines are floated. However, it is time for schools to reopen.”

President of the Chandigarh Parents Association, Nitin Goyal, however, said, “The MHRD had asked for parents’ feedback, but no parent in my knowledge was asked.” DSE Brar said that the department will ask parents for their feedback as well.

Schools in the tricity have remained closed since the first order was issued on March 13.