Education Department to seek parents’ consent online

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

In the wake of Centre’s decision allowing schools to open from September 21, the UT Education Department has decided to seek consent from parents before taking any decision regarding opening schools and conducting compartment exams.

When the number of Covid cases is at an all-time high, it is insane to open schools as children are a high-risk group. Neither the schools are willing to take the responsibility nor are parents willing to send children to schools. – Head, Chandigarh Parents’ Association

District Education Officer Alka Mehta said: “We have decided to take consent from parents with the help of Google forms before reopening the schools. As far as compartment exams are concerned, we will need the consent from parents for conducting exams in the offline or online medium.”

In line with the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, the Education Department has decided to call 50 per cent staff to schools. As per the guidelines, activities in schools can be partially resumed for Classes IX to XII from September 21 on a voluntarily basis.

However, parents in the city are not much unwilling to send children to schools.

The Chandigarh Parents’ Association president said: “When the number of Covid cases is at an all-time high, it is insane to open schools as children are a high-risk group. Neither the schools are willing to take the responsibility nor are parents willing to send children to schools.”

City private schools are awaiting the UT Education Department’s nod before taking any decision to reopen the schools.

Reema Dewan, Principal, Delhi Public School, said: “We have been trying to find ways to start schools amid the pandemic. It is certain that we will not allow more than 10-12 children in one classroom. We have also set up isolation rooms in the school and tied up with the nearest hospital in case of an emergency.”

“However, an integral part of the SOPs shared by the Centre is the parents’ consent. We are waiting for the UT Education Department orders before taking any decision,” said Dewan.

HS Mamik, president of the Independent Schools’ Association, said: “We don’t want to jump the gun until the department takes a decision. Every necessary arrangement will be made.”

Funds sanctioned to the UT

The Centre has sanctioned Rs33.85 lakh (elementary level) and Rs12.72 lakh (secondary level) to the UT for school safety and security activities to encourage teachers to function as the first-level counsellors for dissemination of basic information about Covid-19 under the “school safety programme”. Further, an amount of Rs57,000 @ Rs500 per school has been estimated for safety and security measures in all schools.