Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced resumption of regular classes for students of Std X and XII from November 21, the Higher Secondary Teachers Association of Goa (HSTAG) has demanded that government should either re-open school for all or to declare 2020-21 “Zero Academic” Year.
Five months after the academic term commenced in June, the government announced that Class X and XII will resume from November 21, post Diwali vacation, following safety norms. However, no decision has been taken with regards to other sections.
Speaking to Herald, HSTAG president Anant Pissurlekar said, “While announcing the commencement of classes for the two sections, the CM said the decision is taken to secure the future of students”.
“We want to know whether only Class X and XII students have future. The other class students have no future,” he said.
“It is our sincere demand that if the decision is to secure the future of students, then government should re-open all classes. Or else, declare it as Zero Academic Year,” Pissurlekar demanded.
Further, the Association has urged government to consider transportation of students, especially those travelling from rural areas, as part of its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which is yet to be released.
Pissurlekar sought to know whether government will make necessary provision to appoint a substitute, if a teacher on duty tests positive, within 24 to 48 hours, goes on leave. “Once positive, the teacher will go on leave for 17 days. As per Rule, no substitute is permitted if the leave period is less than 45-days. Will the government consider this,” he asked.
He also demanded that teachers should be given relaxation from using masks while teaching in the classroom.
“Also, what SOP the government will prescribe in a situation if a student tests positive, wherein he or she has to go for 17 days quarantine. Will the student attend online class or teacher will have to take his lecture separately, once back in school,” Pissurlekar said.
