Reopening of UT schools: Low turnout as parents withdraw consent

Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 21

Schools finally reopened on Monday after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, putting to the test the UT’s ability to control outbreaks in schools. 

Several parents, however, did not send their wards despite giving consent previously.

Even though 50 per cent of students in government schools had consented to come in to seek guidance, few students turned up on the first day. The majority of private schools continued to remain shut as no students came to attend classes for guidance.

Rajesh Kumar, Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Manimajra Housing Board Complex said, “We were expecting many students according to the consent forms we had received. However, it seems parents have changed their mind and are not willing to send their wards to school. In the first shift, only 17 students came to attend classes.”

Reema Dewan, Principal of Delhi Public School, Sector 40 said, “Only one student turned up in class 12, as opposed to 10 students who had given consent to join the school. Despite our assurances, parents changed their consent last night and called up to convey that they weren’t willing to send their children to school.”

In many government schools, students are being called in two shifts, one for the class X and another for class XII. A gap of one hour is kept in between to sanitise the floors and classrooms before the next shift comes.

Aman Sharma, a Non-Medical student of GMSSS 45 said, “I had come to clear doubts in physics. It is a difficult subject and needed some assistance. The arrangements were properly placed and only 10 students were seated in one class.”

Some parents even came to drop their children to school themselves. Rajkumar, a parent said, “Studies are more important than anything else. The fear of coronavirus has evaded over time.”