Parents in Punjab are worried about sending their children back to school from October 15 as per the ‘Unlock 5’ guidelines issued by the Central Government on October 5.
The Punjab government has also released a fresh set of guidelines that mandate not more than 20 students in a section can attend classes. Moreover, students in classes 9-12 can only return to school as of now.
Read: Maharashtra Schools and Colleges to remain shut till October 31
Punjab Govt on School Reopening in the state
The continuous growth rate of infections in the state of Punjab makes the parents anxious about the safety of their children at school which will reopen from October 15 in a graded manner. Of late, School Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said, Punjab government is yet to decide on school reopening.
According to him, a suggestive letter was written to the Home Department and final decision will be taken by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The state will at first ensure safety precautions taken at schools and implement SOPs before they start functioning for 3 days a week for Classes 9 to 12.
Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs has released the guidelines for Unlock 5 stating all the state governments are going to take a flexible decision regarding the reopening of schools and colleges only after October 15, 2020. Know More
As per the guideline, parents can decide whether they want to send their children to school or not on a voluntary basis. Parents have to issue a written consent to the school board for the same.
Unlock 5.0 Guidelines on School Reopening
The Center has given the State Government the flexibility to take decisions on reopening of schools in a graded manner. The decision will be taken only after October 15, 2020. The key points of the latest Unlock 5.0 Guidelines are as follows.
- If students preferred to attend the online classes rather than physically attend schools, they can do so as per the MHA guidelines.
- Students who will be attending schools or institutes doubt solving classes can do so only with the written consent of their parents.
- Schools are mandatory to follow the education Department of State SOPs guidelines while conducting classes.
- Attendance will not be mandatory for students.
- In a closed space, only a maximum of 50% of the room capacity is allowed.
- Lockdown will continue in the containment zones till October 31 until further notice.
Punjab: Parents react on Students Returning to School
A parent in Ludhiana, Punjab commented ‘I welcome the Indian Government’s order but I appeal to them to reconsider the same. Covid-19 cases are rising without a vaccine. Social distancing will be impossible to maintain and observe in a school environment.’
Read: Tripura Government to Reopen Schools From October 5
Another parent said that she fears schools becoming a possible hotspot as children often don’t follow precautions seriously.
She said “I have two kids, one in pre-nursery and another one in the nursery class. Kids are often careless and don’t follow rules. Reopening schools in the middle of a rising pandemic appear dangerous and might make them a hotspot for the virus.
It should be noted that schools for class 9 to class 12 opened from September 21, 2020, for which the SOPs had been already released by the Central Government.
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