Covid cases in Ludhiana's govt schools spread panic among parents

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 11

The reporting of Covid-19 cases in two government schools on Tuesday led to panic among school managements, staff, students and their parents. While parents had made up their mind to send the wards to schools but the fresh cases of Covid has again put a question mark. Many parents have again stopped sending their kids to schools.

Vedika (name changed), a mother, whose son is in Sacred Heart School, said she had sent her ward to school for two days as limited students were called. “But I am being told by family members not to send him now because cases are coming in schools. He is only four, studies are not that important as his health”, said the worried mother.

Sukhdarshan Singh, president, Nakal Virodhi Teachers’ Front, said when they call the parents to send their wards to schools, parents ask for safety of the kids. “Yesterday’s incidence has certainly created panic among parents and students. Though we are calling students rotation wise still parents feel reluctant because we take an affidavit that school will not be held responsible for Covid cases. The parents want schools to take the responsibility of safety of their child, which is not possible”, said the teacher.

Many parents feel that till now, the schools were shut and kids were saved. But now the government has decided to open the schools especially at this time when the kids, school students are not vaccinated. “They should have waited for the vaccination. How can we put the lives of our children at stake when none is ready to take the responsibility? Many schools have started physical classes for students, offline tests. We feel the schools should wait, watch and continue with online studies,” said Parampal Singh, a parent at Civil Lines, whose daughter is a Class XII student.