PANJIM: With schools set to reopen in Goa for students of Classes X and XII from Saturday, after a gap of nearly six months since the commencement of the Academic Year 2020-21, most parents are still unsure of sending their wards for regular classes despite the State reporting a decline in the number of fresh COVID-19 cases.
School managements have said they are prepared to resume classes, which will start between 8.30am and 9.30 am and end between 12.30pm and 1.00pm, with 12 students in each class.
School managements maintain that classes will be held with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol, however, they have cautioned teachers, parents and students, about possible infection despite the precautionary measures. Certain schools have also obtained an undertaking from parents as well as students on the safety aspect.
Dr KB Hedgewar High School headmaster Vilas Satarkar said that all preparations for classes to resume have been completed. “We don’t know how many students will come. Along with offline classes, online classes will also continue,” he said.
The reopening of schools has put parents in
a spot as they do not want to expose their wards to the risk of infection. “My daughter studies in Class XII and used to go to school on a bicycle. How can we now let her go like that? Also, sending in the school bus is not advisable as students from different places travel. It is better that she studies at home,” parent Vandana Mahale, said.
Nikhil Prakash, father of Class XII student said, “My daughter is ready to go to school, but I am worried. My wife and I go to work. Now, we have decided to take leave alternate weeks, to pick and drop her to and from school. We cannot risk her life, by letting her go by bus.”
Meanwhile, schools have prepared for the classes by following the guidelines recommended by the government.
“We have drawn up our own Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), under which school timings have been made flexible and also a week-long time table has been drawn,” a teacher said, adding that ‘necessary awareness amongst students and parents with regards to SOP and other safety aspects have been made’.
Sanitisation of school buildings, procurement of masks, thermal guns for temperature scanning, sanitisers, are what schools have complied with before starting classes. Some schools have also put in place a medical team, in case, any child falls sick during the classes.
There will be no morning assembly and no physical education activities like sports and games.
As per the SOP issued by Directorate of Education, student’s attendance would be in a staggered manner with physical distance of 6 feet.
Schools have been given the option of an ‘odd-even’ formula for classes as well as running the schools in shifts, in case of high enrolment, by reducing time duration. Schools have also been asked to prepare the time-table in such manner that there will be no crowd in the school.
