Calcutta schools await parents’ reopen nod- Parents have to decide whether it is “safe enough” to send their children to school amid the pandemic,

Govt consent not enough, guardians must feel in-person classes are safe: Principals

A number of school heads said it was a “difficult choice” for parents — many might still be scared to send their children to class and at the same time worried that not doing so would result in the students missing out on practical and “doubt clearing” sessions

Jhinuk Mazumdar, Subhankar Chowdhury   |   TT   |   Calcutta   |    07.12.20  :  A consent from the state government to reopen schools may not be enough to resume in-person classes, parents have to feel comfortable about sending their children to school, the heads of several institutions have said.

Parents have to be part of the decision-making and they will have to decide whether it is “safe enough” to send their children to school amid the pandemic, a principal said.

A day after the ICSE council had on December 2 requested all chief ministers to allow schools to “reopen partially” — for the students of Classes X and XII - from January 4, several schools started thinking how to tackle the issue.

A number of school heads said it was a “difficult choice” for parents — many might still be scared to send their children to class and at the same time worried that not doing so would result in the students missing out on practical and “doubt clearing” sessions.

“Even if schools reopen and we are allowed to resume in-person classes, we will have to provide an alternative dates for practicals. If we are taking the consent we cannot possibly force them to come to school,” a principal said.

At least two heads said online and in-person classes would have to be held simultaneously because not all children might be in a position to go to school while the pandemic is still raging.

St James’ School said they would have to take a declaration from parents that their children were fit enough to attend school.

Terence Ireland, the principal of St James’, said: “It has to be the parents’ call whether they can send their child to school.”

Loreto House said the consent from parents was important because they would have to face the consequences if anything untoward happened.

Aruna Gomes, the principal of Loreto House, said the parents’ consent was important because the “responsibility of the child coming to school will largely rest with the parents”.

Heritage School, too, will seek parents’ consent before resuming on-campus classes.

Seema Sapru, the principal of The Heritage School, said:  “We’d not like children to come to school unless their parents are confident that it is safe for them.”

Modern High School for Girls said they would need to know how many students were ready to attend in-person sessions to organise classes.

Calcutta Girls’ High School will draw up a roster for students to attend practical classes in batches.

An official in the education department said the state government would have to weigh the “pros and cons” of reopening campuses before announcing its stand on the ICSE council’s request.

“The government is yet to reopen colleges and universities because there is no certainty that there will be no more surge in coronavirus cases in the state,” the official said.

“Any decision on reopening of schools will give rise to the question whether it is right to do so at  a time college and university campuses are still closed…. Also, whatever decision the government takes should apply to all boards,” the official said.

Schools also feel that feedback from parents was important for them to prepare for reopening.