The Free Press Journal

Colleges, schools in a fix as govt yet to decide on offline classes

- RONALD RODRIGUES

Both state and private board schools in Mumbai are caught up in a dilemma as Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday did not announce any decision on reopening of offline lectures for Classes 10 and 12. Also, degree colleges and universiti­es waiting for a final nod as the decision regarding reopening of offline lectures was supposed to be taken after February 22 are in a fix after the Chief Minister hinted at the possibilit­y of another lockdown.

Schools have been waiting for a decision regarding reopening considerin­g board theory and practical exams are approachin­g but the Brihanmumb­ai Municipal Corporatio­n (BMC) has not provided any clarity. Teachers of state board schools said they were hoping the CM would permit schools in Mumbai to reopen offline at least for Classes 10 and 12.

Parineeti Chaudhuri, a teacher of a Mahim school said, "We have students from weak financial background­s who are preparing for Class 10 Secondary School Certificat­e (SSC) board exams. They need practical exposure, physical presence of teachers and individual attention to understand certain concepts. We were really expecting a decision regarding reopening of offline lectures for Mumbai schools for Standards 10 and 12 but, it seems like we will have to wait for another few days."

Siddharth Jain, a teacher of a CBSE board school, said, "Instead of waiting for a direction on offline reopening, we have started conducting revision and doubt solving lectures online for students appearing for Classes 10 and 12 board exams."

While, degree colleges and universiti­es said they will start initiating precaution­ary measures, sanitisati­on and COVID-19 safety protocols on campus after receiving a final direction from the BMC.

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