Experts oppose move for reopening of schools; parents quite worried

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Even as experts are opposing the State government's move to reopen classes (Nursery to VI) from January 1, 2021, the parents are also a worried lot while most of the private schools are still decided on this crucial issue.

"Majority of the parents are reluctant and scared to send their kids to schools. Even though we reopened the classes from IX to XII from November 2, the issue becomes very sensitive in the case of reopening the classes in the junior section. Students of the upper classes are conscious and mature enough to take care of the COVID-safety protocols by themselves. But the junior students might find it difficult to adhere to the COVID-safety norms," said the Principal of a leading private English medium school.

Health & Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently announced that all government and private elementary schools in the State having classes from Nursery to VI will reopen on January 1 in a staggered manner. The State Government will soon issue the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in this regard.

"If some schools, including the private ones, are not willing to reopen and continue with the ongoing online classes as a precautionary measure, we have nothing against it. Parents' consent will be mandatory to send their children to schools. Attendance will not be compulsory; and school authorities cannot force their students to attend classes," said the Education Minister.

Parents have approached the heads of leading schools with a plea not to reopen classes from Nursery to Class-IV under any circumstance.

On other hand, experts and doctors have said that with the existing infrastructures and facilities in schools (both government and private) across Assam, it might be a blunder in case the State Government goes ahead to reopen schools from Nursery classes without waiting for the invention of a vaccine against COVID-19 and its effective treatment.

"Strict maintenance of the scientifically-evolved preventive measures may not be possible in the classrooms as well as in the transport vehicles," said Dr Jnanendra Nath Sharma, eminent child specialist and author of several books on children's physical and mental wellbeing.

"It is too early to confidently declare anything because COVID-19 is a new virus for the world. There are many aspects still unknown about the characteristics and behaviour of this virus," said Dr Sharma, adding that under such circumstances one should not take the risk of allowing the children to go to their schools.

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