Before schools reopen, many parents concerned
The state government has advised that the schools be run in two shifts with 50% strength to ensure Covid-19 protocol is followed
Days before schools from classes 9 to 12 reopen across the state from August 16 as per state government orders, many parents have expressed concern over the well-being of their children and several have not given consent for physical classes, especially in the view of predictions about a possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In many of the institutions in Lucknow, hardly up to 50% parents have given their consent to send their children to school for physical classes.
In a survey conducted by the schools, a majority of parents of La Martiniere Girls College and St Agnes Loreto declined to send their children to school in view of the pandemic. “More than 75% parents of our class 9 to 12 students expressed reluctance in sending their daughters to school because of the pandemic,” said La Martiniere Girls’ College principal Aashrita Dass.
St Agnes Loreto Day School principal Debra Bunny said, “We sent a Google survey to parents whose wards are in class 9 to 12. There are 300 of them. Most parents said they don’t wish to send their daughters to school from August 16.”
As a result, both the schools have decided to continue with only online classes in days to come. At La Martiniere College, out of 1250 students of classes 9 to 12, parents of only 150, maybe even less, have given their consent to send their children for physical classes, said principal Carlyle Mcfarland. Though the school administration has decided to open the school, its boarding facility will remain shut as of now.
Keeping in mind the concern of the parents and safety of students, the management at Lucknow Public Collegiate (LPC) has decided to delay the opening of the institution for physical classes by a week. Jawaid Alam Khan, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) coordinator and director for LPC, said, “Both our branches will reopen a week later because we are making arrangements to ensure the safety of the students who will appear for physical classes. Even then, we will continue with hybrid classes.”
Sarvesh Goyal, chairman of GD Goenka Public School where around 500 students are enrolled in classes 9 to 12, said, “We have received consent from around half of the parents for physical classes. We will start the school with 50% strength. The online classes will also run parallel.”
HN Upadhyay, principal of MD Shukla Inter College, an aided school of UP Board, said that they will also begin classes despite the low number of parents giving consent.
“We only received consent from parents of 50 students of the total 125. But we will begin physical and online classes from August 16,” he said.
The state government has advised that the schools be run in two shifts with 50% strength to ensure Covid-19 protocol is followed. Most schools have announced they would follow the advice and have also brought in changes in the timetable so that the maximum syllabus can be completed in a shorter duration. Study Hall School principal Meenakshi Bahadur said, “Study Hall welcomes the decision of the UP government to allow the reopening of schools from August 16 for the senior section and from September 1 for the juniors. We are calling only 50% of the strength so we don’t need two shifts. Online classes will continue for the students who are not attending school physically.”
Dr Urvashi Sahni, founder president and CEO, Study Hall
Educational Foundation, s “We are getting written con from parents. 53% have sented and the numbers growing. The rest are hesi because of fear. Some have loved ones and are still trau tised by that. All our student thrilled and can’t wait to be in school. Teachers are happy to welcome them. Ev one wants a sense of norm It’s been very long now and demic fatigue and related on fatigue is setting in.”
Sahni added that the sc was making efforts to get a staff fully vaccinated.