As Andhra Schools Reopen, 575 Students, 829 Teachers Get COVID-19

All government schools and colleges in Andhra Pradesh reopened on 2 November for Class 9 and 10 students.

THE QUINT, 06 Nov 2020: Within three days of high schools opening in Andhra Pradesh, 575 Students and 829 teachers have tested positive for COVID-19, reported PTI.

All government schools and colleges in the state reopened on 2 November for Class 9 and 10 students. The sharp spike in COVID-19 positive cases has alarmed parents and officials estimate that only 40 percent of students have begun attending classes.

However, according to V Chinna Veerabhadrudu, Commissioner of School Education, these figures are not alarming when compared to the number of students who are attending the school. He maintains that very strict COVID-19 safety protocols have been implemented and only 15-16 students have been grouped in a classroom.

“On 4 November, around four lakh students attended schools, but there were 262 positive cases. It is not even 0.1%. It is not correct to say that they were affected due to their attendance to schools. Out of the 1.11 lakh teachers, about 160 teachers have tested positive. The lives of both teachers and students are important for us,” Veerabhadrudu told PTI.

As per the statistics provided by the education department, Class 9 and 10 have 9.75 lakh registered students, out of which 3.93 lakh attended; and out of 1.11 lakh teachers, over 99,000 teachers attended the education institutions on Wednesday, 4 November. Officials have stated that 99.2 percent of high schools have opened up in the state and 89.92 percent of teachers have started teaching classes, as reported on 5 November.

Veerabhadrudu maintains that it is important to reopen schools, especially for economically backward students who do not have the opportunity to the access online education. He further said that girl students from tribal and rural areas may get pressurised to quit school and get married if the schools do not open.

575 students, 829 teachers test COVID-19 positive after schools reopen in Andhra Pradesh

ZeeNews, Amaravati: At least 575 students and 829 teachers tested positive for COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh after the state government reopened schools from November 2 for classes 9, 10 and intermediate.

As per the Andhra Pradesh education department's data, there are 9.75 lakh students registered for Class 9 and 10 in the state out of which 3.93 lakh attended, out of 1.11 lakh teachers, over 99,000 thousand attended the educational institutions on Wednesday.

Commissioner of School Education V Chinna Veerabhadrudu said the figure is not alarming when compared to the number of students attending the schools. He further assured that every care is being taken to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are in place in every institution.

Speaking to PTI, Veerabhadrudu said, "Yesterday (November 4) around four lakh students attended schools. There were 262 positive cases. It is not even 0.1 per cent. It is not correct to say that they were affected due to their attendance to schools. We ensure that each school room has only 15 or 16 students.''

He added, "Lives of both students and teachers are important for us." According to Veerabhadrudu, the attendance of students to schools was hovering about 40 per cent as parents are still apprehensive of the killer virus despite tight measures being taken by the government.

As per the new guidelines by Andhra Pradesh government on school reopening, classes 9 and 10 and Intermediate first and second year would function on alternate days only for half-a-day. Classes 6, 7 and 8 would begin on November 23 while classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 would start from December 14, an official statement said earlier.

All the educational institutions have remained closed since March when the national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 was announced.