Pune Rural Schools Open With No to Very Low Students’ Attendance On The First Day

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Pune, November 24, 2020: While the Maharashtra government gave a go ahead to rural schools in the state to reopen from November 23, most of the schools functioned with ‘no to low attendees’.

Pune district’s rural schools started offline functioning from Monday, however, only four percent of the students turned up on the first day. The schools have been instructed to take all necessary care to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). By chance, if any student is virus-infected, then the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) will take responsibility for the treatment.

As per the new guidelines for schools to reopen, the state government had stated the schools will resume offline classes for students of Std IX to XII. Out of a total of 1,246 private schools in rural areas, 215 schools reopened on the first day and 9,433 students attended. The student attendance rate was around four percent. Even though the schools are administered to take all necessary precautions, it is anticipated that parents aren’t willing to send their children to school, fearing children may contract the disease. Pune ZP president Nirmala Pansare and vice-president Ranjit Shivtare assured that all preventive measures to avoid spread of COVID is undertaken by the school. Besides, if any student contracts the infection, the district administration will take full responsibility and treat the student.

Schools have undergone proper sanitisation and are maintaining social distancing. They are also checking the body temperature and oxygen level of every student; informed the officials. So far, 6,565 teachers and staff have been tested for corona and of them, 29 have tested COVID positive. In coming few days rest of the teachers and staff will be checked; following the results, they will resume work. From December 1 onwards, schools in the district will function 100 percent, stated the officials.

Many schools in Lonavla, Baramati and Indapur reopened with absolutely no students to a very low number of students who attended the school on the first day, because their parents didn’t allow the students to come to school. As per the guidelines too, parents’ consent is required for students to attend the school. The school management committees have also held parent meetings, but the majority of the parents had insisted on not sending students to school.

Besides, many schools in Lonavala could not start on Monday as they had not completed the Corona tests of teachers which is a pre-requisite to start school. Lonavla Municipal Council held a meeting of headmasters of secondary schools on Monday. The headmaster lamented that the parents were not giving their consent. It is not possible to start a school without the consent of the parents. In addition, the school management has said in the consent form that it will be the responsibility of all parents in case of infection after visiting the schools. Therefore, parents are demanding that schools be closed until the vaccine is introduced or the COVID cases are reduced.