While private school managements claim that most parents are willing to send their children, the response from parents of government school students have been poor.

 After the Centre issued guidelines, the State government had proposed allowing students from Classes 10 to 12 to come to schools on voluntary basis from October 1 after getting written consent from the parents. The School Education Department, too, had permitted 50 per cent teachers to work, except at schools inside containment zones.

 Following this, consent forms were distributed to all parents seeking their willingness to send their children to schools.

 According to PK Ilamaran, president, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association, the response from parents was poor till now. “No one called us to know the status with regard to the government order,” he added.

 “We have sent the consent forms to all the parents. Through messages, we have asked the parents who were willing to send their children to school to bring their forms on October 1. But it appears that not many children would be coming to school,” Ilamaran said. He pointed out that as per the government order, the schools would be kept open even for a single student who comes to clarify his/her doubts with the teacher.

 This stands in stark contrast with the claims by private school managements in the State. According to KR Nandhakumar, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Nursery, Primary, Matriculation, Higher Secondary, and CBSE Schools’ Association, more than 90 per cent of the parents want schools to be reopened at the earliest.

 “Though private schools have already received feedback during online classes from the parents who evinced interest in sending their children to the institutions, the private school managements will obtain parents’ willingness through the consent forms,” he added.

 Echoing similar views, DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, said that the response from parents on sending their children was very good. “To discuss the preparedness to reopen schools from October 1, a meeting of the representatives is being organised,” he added.