In times of Covid pandemic, students, parents and schools innovate to celebrate teachers

PANAJI: Even as students are away from their schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Teachers’ Day on Saturday saw students, parents and schools across the state improvise to give their teachers a day they wouldn’t forget.
When teachers of Sharada Mandir school, Miramar, arrived at the campus on Saturday, they found the school gate decorated with flowers and messages. They were then asked to stand outside the gate in a line, and a motorcade of their students’ parents drove by in 35 cars.
Students, sitting inside, rolled down the windows to wish their teachers as they passed by.
“The parents decided to surprise the teachers by celebrating Teachers’ Day in a very unique and touching manner,” said a parent, Niwedita Dwivedi. “The teachers were delighted to see the parents participating in a car rally in their respective vehicles, with their children holding placards with emotional messages dedicated to the teachers.”
The parade was held ensuring that social distancing norms were followed.
Another parent, Vanita Khanna, said, “The parents felt the need to express their gratitude to the teachers, who have been working tirelessly during this time of crisis, to ensure that the students do not miss out on their learning”.
At Our Lady of Divar high school in Divar, the school held a prayer service, and students joined in via Google Meet. Without students around, teachers used the time to bond with their colleagues over some games and cake.
Unique celebrations were witnessed across the state. “As I am retiring in October, another teacher, Umer Muttawali, hosted a 45-minute interview, discussing with me different aspects of my career,” said Kisan Phadte of Marina English high school, Verna. “The audience was made up of other teachers. The recorded interview was later shared with students via different online platforms.”
Some members of the unaided schools association in the state observed black day on Teachers’ Day, in solidarity with teachers across the country who were retrenched during the pandemic.
“It was a call given by the national independent schools alliance (NISA) to observe the day as black day, as a lot of teachers have lost their jobs due to fees not coming in,” said Deepak Khaitan, founding president, all Goa government recognised unaided schools association (AGGRUSA).
Sunshine Worldwide school, where Khaitan is a director, saw students wishing teachers online on the day, with many sending across cards to recognize their teachers’ efforts.