BENGALURU: School admissions have gone online in the times of Covid-19. With many private institutions starting to invite applications for the 2021-22 academic year, parents can take virtual tours of the campus, make video calls with admission teams and plan student interactions on Zoom and Google Meet.
“This admission season, Vibgyor group of schools has moved all school tours online. We are facilitating 3D
virtual tours of the entire campus, laboratories, playgrounds and amenities. Parents who wish to visit the school are also being allowed to do so, as long as all safety protocols and social-distancing norms are followed. We have also moved all other admission formalities online and are providing assistance to parents in filling the admission form and sharing necessary documents via email,” said Peshwa Acharya, chief marketing officer of Vibgyor schools.
While some schools had similar tour videos earlier too, many made them more comprehensive this time. Jyothis Mathew, principal of Treamis World School, said the admission team takes parents on video calls around the campus on request. “Apart from the virtual tour, we get requests from parents to specifically see classrooms or other facilities. Our admission team takes them around on video calls. We are more than happy to facilitate things online as we do not want to put parents or our team at risk,” she said.
Interaction with students and parents have gone virtual. “Our admissions begin from October 26. Interactions with students will be through modes like Zoom or Google Meet. While parents can enquire about everything online now, they can visit the campus when things improve,” said Susheela Santhosh, director, Vishwa Vidyapeeth Group of Schools.
Meanwhile, some schools are reporting a rise in interest from NRI families. “We have received at least 100 enquires. Apart from people from the US and the Middle East, who cite various reasons for resettling, interestingly, there’s a good number from Singapore, who seemed to have faced job losses,” said the chairman of a prominent chain of schools in the city.
“While our admissions will start only after November, we have been getting queries from parents over the past six months, especially from the Middle East. It could be because of the pandemic-induced job situation,” said Mansoor Ali Khan, member, board of management, Delhi Public Schools.