Govt plans to reopen schools from Sept: States confused, parents against idea

Six months after the coronavirus pandemic began, uncertainty on when schools will re-open looms large. This is a question all parents, children and even the schools themselves are grappling with.

And in the month of August, as India touches the 20 lakh benchmark from 15 lakh cases in a record 9 days, the central government is in discussions to chalk out a plan to reopen schools from the month of September.

The government is of the view that schools for higher classes could begin in a phased manner between September and November.

Guidelines include opening schools first for classes 10-12 and then for classes 6 to 9, which have been discussed with GOM for Covid-19 headed by Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan.

In the first phase, students of classes 10 and 12 will be asked to attend schools. If a school has four sections in any class, only two sections will attend school on alternative days.

The timings of the school will be halved -- from 5 to 6 hours to just 2 to 3 hours. While schools will continue to run in shifts, one hour will be given in between for school premises to be sanitised.

Schools have been proposed to run on 33% staff and student strength.

Discussions within group of Secretary indicates that government feels it's not best to all students of preprimary and primary classes. In such cases online studies must continue. Discussions within group of secretary indicates that government feels it's not best to all students of preprimary and primary classes. In such cases online studies must continue.

The decision could be notified as part of the final unlock guidelines to be issued later this month. However, the final decision could be left with states on how to bring back children to schools.

What states have proposed

In a letter to education secretaries of all states last week, the ministry directed them to get the feedback of parents on when they would want the schools to reopen and changes they expect to be introduced in schools.

The states have submitted their assessment of when they think schools could reopen:

Delhi - August

Haryana - August 15

Andhra Pradesh - September 5 (tentative)

Karnataka- September 1

Rajasthan - September

Kerela - 31 August

Assam - September 1 (tentative)

Bihar - August 15

Ladakh - August 31

Many states like Maharashtra, UP and WB are undecided

While many smaller states with fewer corona cases are ready to reopen schools by August to September, states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are still undecided.

Delhi and Haryana have proposed to reopen schools after August 15. Jammu and Kashmir have said they will follow MHA guidelines...

Sources in Delhi government have said that even though they are glad that the number of cases have reduced, they "are not going to contemplate re-opening even till September looking at the present scenario. Any discussion on this issue within the state would only happen post September," as per a source in the Delhi government education department.

Parents are skeptical

While many parents in India are skeptical about the idea or sending children to schools even as coronavirus cases continue to surge in the country, states have argued that education in government schools is suffering.

Parent Amit Gupta whose son studies in Delhi Public School in the national capital said, "I am not going to send my son to school even if they ignore parents' concerns. One year break is better than to risk his health."

Risking the health of children has been one of the prime fears of most parents across metro cities.

The decision on schools reopening could be notified as part of the final unlock guidelines to be issued later this month.

World scenario

The government says it has seen countries like Switzerland re-open schools. However, countries like Israel where schools have re-opened have seen a sudden spike in cases.

Israel reopened schools in the month of May but ultimately closed more than 240 schools and quarantined more than 22,520 teachers and students.

When the school year ended in late June, the ministry said, 977 pupils and teachers had contracted Covid-19.

The United States is facing similar pressures to fully reopen schools as President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold funding for districts that don't reopen. But hours after re-opening a school in Indiana, a child tested positive and the schools administration had to be quarantined.

>>Source: IndiaToday; No editing has been done to this article except for the title<<