Parents not keen to send kids to school until vaccine is launched: Survey

Ranchi: A preliminary report of a survey by the state education department reveals that majority of parents are in favour of re-opening of schools only after the launch of a Covid vaccine.
The department began an online feedback collection drive on July 24 which will run till the end of this month. The survey contains questions regarding re-opening of schools, mode of transportation, method of teaching, classroom hours, precautions needed at schools and the way to implement midday meal and others.
Talking to TOI, Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) director Sailesh Kumar Chaurasia said, “Majority of parents are not in favour of reopening schools in August and September. Only a few of them opined that schools can be started in October or November with precautions. There is lot of apprehension among them till the Covid-19 vaccine is out.”
Notably, the state is carrying out the survey after the Centre sought parents’ views on the issues. The state will also use the data for its own decision making. So far, over 2,500 parents have taken part in the survey.
Chaurasia said, “In order to boost more responses from parents, most of whom live in rural areas, officials are propagating the message through WhatsApp groups.” It may be stated here that the government had earlier issued an order closing all schools till July 31.