Schools reopen, only 950 pupils show up

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21

Schools finally reopened today after months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic with only 950 students turning up in government schools, which makes for nearly 4 per cent of the total 25,000 students who had agreed to come to school after obtaining consent from their parents.

While some government schools saw 10 to 12 students, a majority of the private schools remained shut as no students came to attend classes for guidance.

One of the reasons for the low turnout was that parents did not send their wards despite giving consent earlier.

Rajesh Kumar, Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Mani Majra (Housing Board Complex), said, “We were expecting more students in line with 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.”

In some government schools, students are being called in two shifts, one for Class X and the other for Class XII. A gap of one hour is kept in between to sanitise the classrooms before the next shift starts. A government schoolteacher said, “A few students came to attend classes. We have been strictly told by the authorities not to call any student on our own. Students can come only with the consent of their parents.”

Aman Sharma, a non-medical student at the GMSSS, Sector 45, said, “I came to clear doubts in physics. It is a difficult subject and I needed assistance. The arrangements were in place and only 10 students were seated in one class. I will not go tomorrow now as my doubts have been cleared.”

Some parents came to drop their children to the school themselves. Rajkumar, a parent, said, “Studies are important. The fear of coronavirus has decreased over time.”

HS Mamik, chairman of Vivek High School, Sector 38, said, “Over 89 per cent students’ parents said they would not send their kids. We were expecting 10-14 children as their consent was received, but only four students came. We will see the trend over the next few days, but we will keep the school open for children.”

In pvt schools too, few turn up

In private schools too, only a few students turned up for guidance. Reema Dewan, Principal of Delhi Public School, Sector 40, said, “Only one student turned up in Class XII though 10 students had given consent to join school. Despite our assurances, parents changed their mind on Sunday night and called up to convey that they weren’t willing to send their children to school.”

Education Secy inspects schools

To ensure compliance with instructions by schools, Sarpreet Singh Gill, Secretary, Education, inspected some schools and observed that proper arrangements were made by the school authorities. Gill said, “We expect more students to join in the coming days, but the decision lies solely with the parents because they should feel comfortable in sending their children to school.”