Allow us to take online classes from home, urge teachers

Lovleen Bains

Doraha, January 22

School and college teachers have urged the authorities concerned to allow them to take online classes from home which would be just in continuation with what is being presently carried out.

The staff is forced to come to the educational institutes daily as the administration has not taken any decision despite the fact that Covid cases have seen a sharp rise in the past few days, they complained. The teachers are taking online classes from their workplaces and the chances of getting infected cannot be overlooked.

“This problem can be easily sought out if the authorities give a wise thought and allow us to take classes from home. The students are not supposed to come, then why should the staff be penalised when they can attend to the students through online mode from home equally well?” asked a teacher.

“An immediate action of the administration would help prevent the spread of pandemic to the families of the staff, who come into contact with a number of people at their workplace. The teachers can take online classes from their homes which would be much safer for the staff,” the staff of a local institute added.

“Can teaching be productive in any way when the staff is forced to function under the shadow of fear? When there is a substantial alternative of teaching the students from home, why is the administration bent upon making us sick? If not, the option of educational institutes functioning with 50% attendance too can help in these telling times,” was still another opinion of a local school teacher.

Principal AS College Khanna RS Jhanji said- “With the rise in number of positive cases, does the administration expect the healthier ones to get infected and further infect the near and dear ones? This vicious chain should be broken at the earliest. We have had enough of a lesson from the earlier experience. We have observed in the past how Covid cases can be curtailed with a solution none other than the lockdown. It would be too late if we start educating the public and then think in terms of imposing the restrictions. We fail to understand what the administration is waiting for?”

Principal GHG Khalsa College Gurusar Sudhar Dr Harpreet Singh said if the economy is important, so is life. “Considering all persuasive methods for COVID-19 appropriate behaviour failing, lockdown seems a good option if supported by meaningfully effective government social assistance policies, especially for daily wagers or low income group people,” he added.