The government’s is contemplating allowing students from
classes 9 to 12 to attend lectures on a voluntary basis and this generated much
ire amongst parents of students. Members of academia however felt they
would have to follow the instructions but they had their apprehensions too.
COVID cases are being detected everyday and the number of
deaths is also sadly rising. In this scenario this call by the government is
literally like the red rag to a raging bull to many
parents
Sanjay Naik who has a daughter in the 11th standard said
the decision made absolutely no sense. He said “The number of cases is
increasing by the day in fact they are now touching a thousand per day, in fact
I believe we should go in for another lockdown. The more we test the more cases
we detect. This is just not the right time to reopen schools and colleges. I am
against this move”.
Cheryl d souza another concerned mother felt it would be ok
if the online classes would be continued and perhaps twice a week, fifty
percent of the students were called to the school for assignments. She said “If
there is a phased presence I am ok otherwise no. The online classes are moving
along very well and the students have adapted very well so I think let it
continue till the virus is completely under control”.
Another parent, Assumpta Alphonso was blunt when she
said “Life is more important than education. I will not support this
under any condition. I read somewhere that Goa is now number one in terms of
cases and deaths when compared to the size of our population”.
There was however also someone like Shewta Kamat Wagh who
felt it was a good decision but it would have to be handled with intelligence.
She said “The online classes have been very good, there were a few problems at
first but that was sorted out eventually but you have to remember these are
children. My children are in the 9th standard which is an important class.
Videos are shared but they are long and boring and children’s attention span
tends to wander. Tests will be conducted over the weekend online and teachers
have urged students to take it seriously and not look into textbooks while
answering but you know it is something they might do. The kids have
progressed very well but I think it is time they went back to school. Of course
I would like them to follow all the sops strictly but this is the business end
of their time in school and it has to be approached with the appropriate
seriousness. Yes there is an element of risk but if handled properly there
should not be a problem”.
The teachers and the principles also had their
misgivings. Deepika Tombat a science teacher at Viscount of Pernem High
School felt at a personal level it was a risk. She said “It is a decision by
the government and we will have to comply and yes students in the 9thand
10th need personal guidance. We however have 50 students in each class
which will mean we will have to divide them into separate classes
we will have to take all the precautions. We cannot do the
practicals online and that would mean to would have to come to school. We will
be doing everything in batches. But like I said earlier I am worried”.
Another senior teacher at the Our Lady of Rosary Primary
School Fatorda, Jessica Pereira was blunt when she said the parents were not
very happy with the decision. She said “There have been a lot of cases in
Fatorda and they have expressed their apprehension. We conducted a
survey amongst the parents and that was the conclusion we gleaned from it.
Right now the support staff is cleaning the classes and we are preparing to
take all the possible precautions but we shall wait and see. We are conducting
online classes but we have around 50 students per class. It will be tough. The
government has to ensure the safety of students before taking such decisions”.
Auria Noronha , Principal and Founder of Greenlawn school
said the government did not seem to look at a problem from all angles before
taking a decision. She said “This is a private school and we have students
coming from different villages. We cannot afford to send our buses twice
to pick them. It is not easy and not economical. This government has not given
the children any incentive in these strange times. We will continue with our
online classes and decide what needs to be done”
The strength of emotion against this decision is there for
all to see. One can only hope it does not backfire spectacularly.
