That the transition would throw up some issues for students and teachers was expected, as both had experienced a long period of online teaching. Returning to the classroom during a pandemic and following standard operating procedures, including physical distancing in crowded classrooms, were the issues that were expected to arise, with school managements having to deal with these. The main point of contention, however, has turned out to be something very different, that was possibly not anticipated, when the decision to restart classroom teaching was taken at the government level.
The issue that has agitated a section of the parents is some schools asking them to sign an undertaking that the school management will not be held responsible if anything happens to students in the school. Essentially this means that neither the government, nor the school nor the teachers would assume any responsibility for children falling sick and parents would be sending their children to school at their own risk. The arguments of some parents is that when the pandemic is far from ended, why should they send their children to school by signing such a consent form, especially since the younger ones have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
A point to be noted is that not all schools have asked parents to sign such a consent form, and it is only a few of them in certain areas that have done so. A majority of schools have readily opened the gates to the campus and the doors to the classrooms without any such prerequisite conditions being placed on parents. Understandably, there are parents who are not willing to sign such a consent letter before sending their children to school. The question that these parents are posing is that, if such a letter is signed by them, who will then be responsible if anything happens to the children.
As per the circular on reopening of schools, the decision was taken considering a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in the State. The Goa Headmasters’ Association had immediately termed the decision to restart schools as ‘very good’ reasoning that children have missed school, classes, friends for two years, and said it is the responsibility of every school to take necessary precautions. Schools would therefore have to ensure that the standard operating procedures were maintained. There was no consent form signed by parents mentioned in the circular. The State government,therefore, has to step in on this and clear the air, especially since the previous notification from the Centre had made it mandatory to get the consent of the parents, and now the Union Ministry gave States the liberty to decide whether schools have to seek the consent of the parents to allow their children to attend offline classes. These Central guidelines were attached to the circular directing schools to open.
What is the Goa government’s stand on this? Based on the Centre’s directive that was attached to the circular on reopening schools, is it seeking such consent forms or not? The government cannot hold back responding to this situation as it is based on their directives that schools have reopened. School managements also have to reveal if there are any directions from the State under which parents are being asked to sign such an undertaking. It is now already three days since classroom teaching has started and the issue has to be settled, for on the other hand, if schools have not sought any such consent, does it signify that they will assume responsibility if any of the students fall sick? There has to be clarity on this, and the earlier it comes the quicker will the issue be settled.
