Amritsar schools reopen, see 50% attendance on Day 1

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 26

Schools reopened to a decent student footfall in the district as the first day saw a number of students from senior classes in attendance.

After almost one-and-a-half years of online classes, students were welcomed to their classrooms by teachers amid caution and full safety protocols.

A few private schools, however, refrained from immediate reopening, as they are yet to receive consent from parents. But those schools which reopened today, reported almost 50 per cent attendance in Classes X, XI and XII. In government schools, a parent-teacher meet was held to get consent for offline classes. While government schools reportedly had overall around 40 per cent attendance today, most parents agreed to send their wards for offline classes amid concerns that education has suffered due to the absence of students from schools for months together.

Students were seen wearing masks and sanitising stations were installed at various points at all government schools. They were being allowed after thermal screening at school gates.

‘Hoping better attendance in the coming days’

Anita Bhalla, secretary of the Sahodaya Schools and principal, Bhavans SL School, said they had 50 per cent attendance from all classes today.

“Students seemed eager to come for offline classes and many feel that they can learn better and prepare for boards. We have so far received consent from 70 per cent parents and are hoping that attendance will increase in the coming days,” she said.

DEO Satinderbir Singh said the first day attendance for government schools was encouraging in the district. “Students expressed willingness to come to school for offline classes. We held a PT meet to make parents aware about the safety measures and also know their consent. In the coming days, we will get a clear picture as to how many students come for physical classes consistently.”

Students, too, felt that resumption of offline classes was a necessity. “Although online studies continued, sometimes connectivity or absence of mobile phones causes break in learning. Clearing of doubts and some conceptual problems will become easier in offline classes,” said Amandeep Kaur, a student of Class IX from Governemnt Senior Secondary School, Putlighar.