Parents against opening schools in July
More than 50 kids are made to sit in a classroom in schools with several children sharing the same infrastructure.
LUCKNOW Whether or not children should be back to school if they open amid rising Covid-19 cases is the question weighing heavy on parents’ mind these days.
They are concerned about their wards’ future, but the health of their kids is of paramount importance.
While the government is allowing things to gradually return to normal despite spike in Covid-19 numbers, concerned parents are taking to social media, asking the decision makers to reconsider any thoughts of reopening educational institutes soon.
“More than 50 kids are made to sit in a classroom in schools with several children sharing the same infrastructure. How can we expect the school administration to ensure that children maintain social distancing,” asked Babita Singh whose son studies in Class 3.
“Opening schools in coming days would be akin to playing with the lives of our children. There should be a necessary scientific scrutiny before any decision concerning reopening of school is taken,” said Varsha Singh, a mother of two who lives in South City.
SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Parents have also taken to social media to raise their concern. #StudentLivesMatter is one of the popular hashtags which is gaining momentum on Twitter with increasing number of parents demanding that schools remain closed till scientists come up with a vaccine to fight coronavirus.
On Facebook, several pages have been made to support the campaign.
Parents are carrying out online signature campaigns to keep schools closed. If Parliament and Vidhan Bhawans can remain closed then why should one hurry in reopening the school, ask several users on social media platforms.
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ZERO SESSION UP TO CLASS 5 VS DELAYED CLASSES UP TO CLASS 8
A resident of La Touche Road and mother of two, Shweta Shukla is of the view that schools up to Class 5 should remain closed till the situation improves.
“A zero session for students up to primary school is not a bad idea as children below 10 years of age are vulnerable to coronavirus,” she said.
With spike in number of corona cases in city and containment zones increasing to 25-26, Lata Gupta, a homemaker said she would prefer delayed session for students up to Class 8.
The schools may start online classes for students but should not insist that they attend school before October.
Many parents are also of the view that students of Class 9 to 12 can be called to attend classes after August 15 if need be, but not before that.
They said safety of their children was of paramount importance.
STUDENTS AGAINST EXAMS
Not just classes, students are unwilling to appear in the remaining CBSE, ICSE and ISC examination scheduled to be held in July.
“Students are not testing kits. Start Parliament proceedings first and then think about conducting exams. We are ready to give exams when we are assured safety. What if an asymptomatic corona patient is present?” reads a tweet posted by a CBSE examinee tagging HRD minister, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
Another tweet reads: “Plz cancel the remaining board examinations of Class 12 and 10 which are being held in July 2020. If you don’t want to endanger the students’ lives which are said to be the future of the nation, please rethink your decision.”
REPUTED SCHOOLS NOT IN HURRY
Principals of reputed schools also shares similar concerns.
Principal of La Martiniere Girls College, Aashrita Dass said, “We don’t support the idea of reopening the school early. The entry points will have a crowd when a child is being sanitized or fever being checked before entering school.”
“Please remember the scene of the first and the last 15 minutes of school duration. It’s scary to even imagine what all may happen in between,” Dass said.
Principal of Christ Church College, Rakesh Chattree said, “I will wait for state government guidelines. Students from Class 9 to 12 may be called but not students below Class 8.”
PVT SCHOOLS ASSN WANTS SCHOOLS TO REOPEN FROM JULY 20
Unaided Private Schools Association had proposed to deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma to reopen schools from July 20 in a phased manner, said Anil Agarwal, president of the association. The association even proposed guidelines that schools with multiple sections may work in shifts (Four hours each) and students of each class to be divided into two (decision should be left on school).
They proposed that if required, syllabus be reduced (20 to 30 per cent) but the council/governing board need to address this at the earliest.