‘Is The Govt Gone Crazy to Reopen Schools When Covid-19 Cases Still on the Rise’- say Unhappy & Fumed Parents
Mangaluru: A day after Team Mangalorean had published an article (Ref: ‘My Child Can Lose a School Year, But I Don’t Want Her To Lose Her Life’- A Worried Parent ) on 2 June, where thousands of parents had signed a petition against the government in reopening schools soon when Covid-19 pandemic still exists, however, on 3 June, the department of public instruction had decided to reopen government, aided, and private schools in the state on 1 July 2020, and had also permitted schools to ahead with the admission process from June 8 onwards. This decision is in tune with the stand of the central government to relax coronavirus norms and allow schools, educational / training / coaching Institutions etc to be opened, after consultation with states and union territories.
The announcement made by the department also asked headmasters/principals of schools to convene a meeting of parents, guardians, partners, and school development and monitoring committees (SDMC) to put together opinions about the way the respective schools have to be run. The department said that if the opinion emerging in the meeting is not supportive of the plan to reopen the school, it can suggest alternative date. The meeting at the school level will discuss about maintaining social distance between students, consider proposal to hold classes on shifts basis (8 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 5 pm) and also the desirability of splitting the classes and holding classes on alternate days. The meeting also has been given the responsibility to decide whether classes should be run on shift basis or not.
The circular from the department also advised the schools to undertake safety measures and prepare for holding parent – teachers meetings, and admission process should start by 8 June, and hold meeting of parents, SDMC committee etc between 10 June and 12 June, and collect opinions and upload the same in SATS software. Between June 15 and 30 they have to conduct admission campaign and see that children who are left out of the schools are brought back. They then have to take all necessary steps to open the school.
During a meeting held by the state primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar, along with other concerned authorities, it was proposed of the dates of reopening of classes, like : 4th to 7th standard – July 1, 2020; 1st to 3rd standard – July 15, 2020; 8th to 10th standard – July 15, 2020; and Pre-primary class – July 20, 2020. The scheduled date for high schools has been worked out by the government, duly taking into account the fact that SSLC examinations will be held from June 25 to July 4 and evaluation of answer sheets will be undertaken thereafter.
Learning this many parents are upset and shown anger against the government for rushing in reopening of schools, when Covid-19 cases have been increasing and not decreasing, day by day. As the weeks of home isolation drag on, the unfairness of remote learning is becoming clear. While upper-middle-class families balance full workdays with home school sessions, many poor parents have neither the work flexibility nor the equipment to help their children keep up with lessons at home. In some places, needy students just have gone silent. For many parents, the prospect of sending kids back into the petri dish of school almost certainly will be too scary, so they will choose to delay. And that choice will have serious downstream consequences.
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The widening gap has educators and parents eagerly anticipating the fall, when most of the City’s public schools are expected to reopen, after government’s order. Some of the money hungry schools which are for name sake are eagerly waiting to reopen the school, and grab in the hefty admission fees. But there’s a key variable no one is talking about: The inequality problem won’t go away. In fact, in many places, it’s going to get worse. Many tweeted strong messages, like- “No way we go back to a regular classroom without a vaccine or positive prevention for the Covid-19 disease,” wrote one. “We’ll be sending our kid to an online school. Not ideal but there’s too much of a risk otherwise, particularly in a deep red area where people aren’t adhering to most of the distancing guidelines,” said another.
How working parents will manage this is unclear—maybe families will band together into smaller at-home makeshift schools, hiring a teacher for just a few kids. Of course, many families won’t have that option, which is where things get really messy. First, let’s leave the question of educational achievement aside and focus just on the transmission of the virus. Every single day, we see the increase in Covid-19 cases, in DK, and large number in Udupi- and this is kind of scary for the parents, whether to send their children to school during such pandemic. And government should think of that and not rush in reopening the schools and face consequences later.
Even during a press meet, MLC Ivan D’Souza had criticized the state government for their decision on school reopening, and urged the government to come up with concrete policy and avoid creating confusion on this issue. “When there is a steep increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, the state government’s decision to reopen schools has created lot of confusion and has made parents panic. When such is the situation, what’s the hurry by the govt to reopen schools in July. Is the Govt trying to please the wealthy schools for their benefit in reopening the schools? But what about the schools in rural areas and the situation they face? Education minister Suresh Kumar has plans to start the schools in three phases, and it has created confusion among school management/administrations, as well as the teachers and parents”.
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MLC Ivan further said, ” The government decision in conducting online classes is not a good idea, because not all students have computers and thus no access to Internet. Only children from rich families could be able to take online classes. Noting all these circumstances the govt should come up a good plan, before they consider reopening of schools. There has been no package for education during this pandemic by the Chief Minister, nor he has sanctioned any funds for students education. Therefore, what’s the hurry to reopen schools? Just imagine, when the Covid-19 scare still exists, what if a child is tested positive for the virus, do you think the parents will send their children to that school? I hope the Govt will think of all these situations and hold on to the reopening of schools for a while, until normalcy. I also urge the government to withdraw the decision for seats recalled under RTE”. .
Well said by the MLC- and meanwhile a few parents speaking to Team Mangalorean have expressed their opinions- A parent whose child is studying in a prominent CBSE school in the Jappinamogaru vicinity said, ” At a time when people are reeling under the effects of Corona virus on the economy, this school has not helped in any way. Fees for a child going to Montessori school is to the tune of Rs 85,000. There is no discount or waiver in spite of the fact that the child is not going to school due to the lockdown. School buses are not running, yet transportation costs are asked for. Same goes for lunch fees. I am very much reluctant in sending my child under the present situation. My child can wait”. While another Parent is extremely upset that they have insisted on paying the fees immediately otherwise they will not allow books to be bought, by this CBSE school.
Ms Shalini R, who has a daughter going to a private primary school says, “The possibility of a child spreading the virus to others and back to the child’s home is why I suggest schools should remain closed for the time being. They may be putting themselves in harm’s way, and may be bringing that virus back with them from school into the community. For me this doesn’t make sense, the risk is certainly higher than the benefit. Therefore schools should not be reopening and I question whether the protocols will make school enjoyable for the children”.
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Ms Lynette Pinto said, “I don’t have any problem in sending my two sons, who are studying at St Aloysius Primary School, as far as the school management adheres to the Covid-19 guidelines, for the safety of the children. I have faith in the management and teachers who always care for their students, and I know that they will take all the precautions for the safety of the students during this pandemic. But I will take a firm decision after the school meeting to be held in few days”.
In the end, reopening schools is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Some leaders are already planning for how to minimize the risk of disease transmission in the classroom. But there’s a catch? Maybe the biggest question is one of messaging: Will state leaders, admin and education authorities and public health experts manage to convince wealthier parents that it’s safe enough for all children to return to school? Unfortunately, in the absence of a breakthrough treatment- It’s going to be a tough sell. And kids from low income families may end up paying the price. Therefore, the best solution- delay in reopening the schools, until it’s SAFE from COVID-19 Scare!
To sign the petition – “No Schools until Zero COVID Case in the State or until Vaccines are out.”, Please Click on the link below:
We are not in hurry to send our children to schools until it is safe.. Our children are valued then one year of school..
Absolutely correct decision from Dony Menezes. Good Article Mr.Alfie. Schools are suffocating without Money. Children are the future of the world. They are already scared watching corona shows on TV 24 hours a day. Will they be safe in Schools if One Child brings the Virus to School. How will they Communicate with Mask on the face.
Schools in the last few years have been acting as an expensive day care center for children whilst the parents were stuck in a pointless job of transposing spreadsheets and look all important in their office. Now that they do not have a job, why bother with the schools. You can day-care your own child instead of expecting the taxpayer to foot the bill.