There are around 1.53 lakh teachers at about 8,000 government and aided high schools, of whom nearly 70 per cent are aged above 50. In addition, about 20,000 are on the verge of retirement.

According to a study to assess the lifestyle practices among government school teachers, conducted by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University in Erode recently, about 57 per cent teachers aged between 40-50 have hypertension. The study recommended authorities to organise screening programmes, particularly for blood pressure, in schools.

Expressing concern that plans were being made to reopen schools before normalcy restored, S Dhandapani, a 43-year-old Tamil teacher from an aided higher secondary school in Washermenpet who has hypertension said returning to the classroom could pose a risk for him.

“Teachers who come in contact with several students every day might have more social interactions than those in other government offices, putting them at higher risk of contracting the virus,” he pointed out.

A 56-year-old female teacher of a government high school in Pallavaram, who has obesity and few health complications, is another who is worried about the prospect of classes restarting. “Everyone know that older people with health disorders at a greater risk of a more severe infection; it is better to wait longer to reopen the schools,” she said on condition on anonymity.

She charged private school managements of putting pressure on the government to reopen schools, as they need to collect fees from the parents.

Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association president PK Ilamaran said the government should ensure full safety of the teachers, especially those who above 50 years. “Not even a single teacher or student should be affected by the virus,” he said.

State Platform for Common School System–Tamil Nadu general secretary PB Prince Gajendra Babu also urged the State government to discuss with Directorate of Public Health on the current situation before finalising the reopening of schools.