CHANDIGARH, October 16
The UT administration has approved has approved a proposal of the education department to reopen schools from next. The schools will reopen for classes IX to XII from November 2.
However, attendance will not be mandatory and students will have to carry parents’ consent, as mandated by the ministry of home affairs in the guidelines.
Meanwhile, teachers are worried as their work will increase if they have to teach half students in classes the others online. Going by the attendance of students since September 21, teachers are not sure if all students will turn up in case attendance is not mandatory. Teachers are also confused as to how will they maintain social distancing with all the students.
So far between 1,800 and 2,000 students of classes IX to XII have been attending school for two sessions of two hours each. The education department had first reopened government schools for classes IX to XII on September 21 following the ministry of home affairs guidelines. It was only after 50% of the parents had given consent, the schools were reopened with full precautions, like sanitisation at the gate and circles marked for social distancing.
However, for reopening classes I to VIII, only around 25 to 30% parents have given consent in government schools. In private schools, the number was even lesser. Online classes will continue for these students.
As per the Unlock 5.0 guidelines issued for reopening of schools and higher institutes, the states and UTs were told that they could take a decision on reopening after October 15 in a graded manner.
