Govt cautiously gave nod for reopening of schools from 1st Feb

Spurred with the preparation of covid-19 vaccine off late – that necessitated the first phase of vaccination drive from 16^th of January throughout the country, the Telangana government cautiously gave its nod for the physical reopening of schools from 1^st February in the state. However, only classes from 9^th to 12^th standard are permitted to perform on the school premises.

The school management was also instructed to follow Covid-19 norms strictly during and after working hours duly maintaining cleanliness such as sanitizing the classrooms, premises, and staff toilets before reopening the schools and invariably during every working day.

Welcoming the government’s decision, the President Telangana Recognised Schools Management Association (TRSMA) Yadagiri Shekar Rao, said, “Although 70 percent of the academic year has passed over as of now, the students from high school section at least for now became used to attend the classes regularly that may make them prepared at least for the examinations.

However, urging the government to make similar announcements for the primary, secondary, and upper primary sections, he said, would enable the pupils of these standards to reconnect with their formal education as the academic deficit has already robbed them of their formal education.

There are 10,984 recognized budget schools in the entire Telangana state wherein around 33 lakh students are enrolled. Only 5 districts such as Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal, Vicarabad, and Sangareddy have 4,500 budget schools wherein 16 lakhs students are pursuing their academics. The students of these five districts alone form over 50% of the whole strength enrolled in the entire state. Moreover, out of 5.34 lakh, students enrolled in the 10^th class, at least two lakh of them come from the above five districts.

Meanwhile, the parents are still afraid of sending their children to schools as they are casting apprehensions over the security of their pupils in the schools as long as the reports of vaccines effectively dealing with the contagion makes the round. “There were many instances in the past wherein the parents sent their wards to school only to receive reports of pupils getting infected with the contagion. Unless the reports of vaccine efficaciously dealing with the contagion came out from different corners, it is difficult for the parents to come out of their fear,” said Syed Shoukat Ali, a city-based activist.