Pandemic scare dithers parents from sending wards to college

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19

Colleges were opened two days ago for the final semester students after the orders from the state government, but it seems that the fear of Covid is not letting the parents of the students to allow them to go to the college. Jaspal Singh Randhawa, principal, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) College, Nakodar, said that proper precautions were being taken for the safety of the students. “But the strength is extremely low. There are approximately 265 students in the final semester, but nearly 25 are coming right now,” he said.

The principal conducted Covid test of all staff members. In college the students’ temperature is checked, sanitisers are given and the students and staff are asked to willingly wear masks.

“I feel since the colleges have started in phased manner, the students are under the impression that it might not be safe for now to go to the college. They think that if the students of other classes are not allowed to come, it means that it is unsafe to visit the college. Also, the cases are again increasing in the district,” the principal said.

He said,“The parents are also not ready to take risk and thus are not letting their wards to attend classroom classes”. The principal of GNDU College Phillaur, Paramjit Kaur Jassal, said, “Only 20 per cent of the students are coming to the college. The parents haven’t given them the consent. The students are still confused whether they should come or not,” she said.

“Also, we have seen the students are not active in online classes. Students come and then leave the classes,” the principal said.

Jassal has called the area senior medical officer to send medical teams to take samples of the staff and the students.

The principals said there was an issue of lack of practical training to the students because of online classes.

Dr Sunil Khosla, principal, Baba Balraj Panjab University Constituent College, which is the only government college in Balachaur, said the university had ordered to continue with online classes only.

“Sometimes, the attendance of the students is too less during online classes. Because the students belonging to rural areas face network problems and some are also devoid of smart phones. But we have finished our 80 per cent of the syllabus now,” he said.