‘Happy to have students back,’ say teachers after schools reopen in Punjab, UP

As part of the Unlock 5 guidelines of the Centre, schools outside containment zones reopened partially in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab on Monday for students of class 9 to 12. 

The school managements have to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, including limiting attendance in the classes to 50% per day to maintain social distancing. Students attending the school need to have written consent from their parents.

Principal of Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Ludhiana, told ANI, “Students of only class 9-12 can come to clear their doubts. We’ve allotted 8-11 am slot to class 9 and 10 and 12-3 pm slot to classes 11 and 12. We have written consent of 110 students, for the same. All COVID-19 norms are being followed.”

Following guidelines, schools too reopened in Uttar Pradesh. 

“Students, whose parents gave written consent, were permitted entry. We aren’t allowing more than 20 students in a class,” said P S Ganesh, a private school manager in Ghaziabad, to ANI.

Even as coronavirus rages the country, teachers were happy to have children back in the classes.

“We’re are happy to have them back. Without students, schools were just reduced to 4 walls. We are following all COVID-19 protocols,” said Veera Hajela, Principal of City Montessori School in Lucknow. 

While some lauded the step towards regaining normalcy, many questioned the health hazards involved with going to school during a pandemic. 

One user tweeted: “It’s simply very Risky, at least children were kept safe. But such act can cause huge damage to families. I am wondering how parents are taking such risk by putting their children in grave danger as actually, COVID-19 takes away life.”

However, as per guidelines, it is not mandatory for the students to visit schools and the decision totally depends on the parents’ or guardian’s discretion.