PANAJI: As schools across the state partially opened on Saturday, attendance, especially in high enrolment institutes was 30% or lower. After the eight-month gap, some institutes said that classes saw as few as two students reporting to schools. Some institutes were forced to wind up early.
Students from Classes X and XII were seen returning home around two hours in school. As the reopening was scheduled on a weekend, school managements are hoping for better numbers on Monday.
Principal of Vidya Prabodhini Higher Secondary School, Porvorim, Damodar Mardolkar, said that the attendance was slightly better only in the case of science stream Class XII students, as they could finally take up the practical component in the laboratory, which could not be touched upon since June.
“Of the 247 students studying in the school in Class XII in the streams of arts, commerce and science, only 61, or 24.7%, were present on Saturday,” said Mardolkar. “Due to low attendance, we had to send students home early. We will know the correct picture on Monday.” He added that many parents are yet to get back with the forms they were asked to submit on whether or not they are willing to send students for physical classes.
Dilip Dharwadkar of Mushtifund Higher Secondary School asked to parents to allow Class X and XII students to attend classes.
“Of the 250 Class X students, only 80 were present today,” he said. “Out of the 152 Class XII students, only 8 were present. We trust that the attendance will be significantly higher on Monday. The school has taken all precautions like disinfecting surfaces, sanitising school premises at regular intervals and ensuring that social distancing is maintained between students. Parents should send students to attend classes.”
Students said the new normal in schools felt odd on day-one of the partial reopening.
“It felt odd to attend school without the usual crowd and chatter and noise,” said Harsh Patel, student of Class XII (commerce) at Vasantrao Dempo Higher Secondary School, Cujira. “Physical classes are better in terms of being able to grasp what is being taught. But where safety is concerned, online classes are preferred. We had geography practicals for commerce students and so we were called to school from 9am to 10.30am.”
Mahesh Karapurkar, a parent whose son studies in Class XII and attended school on the first day, said he was happy that physical classes have resumed. “We do not know when we will be rid of the pandemic entirely,” he said. “We cannot stop living until then. The students had not been in touch with their friends for such a long period and this was giving rise to stress in them. Now their life will at least partially normalise.”
In rural schools, attendance was better than in city schools.
Headmaster of Shri Nirakar School, Mashem, Hemant Kamat, said that of the 30 students studying in Class X in the high school, 28 were present on Saturday. “All have been accommodated in a hall that has a capacity of 500,” he said. “The entire hall was sanitised before commencement of the classes. Students brought their tiffins, and they were not permitted to share their tiffin with their friends,” he added.
Kavita Gaonkar of Balaram Higher Secondary School, Ardhofond, Canacona, said that students have been split into groups of 10. “We are conducting classes from 8am to 12.30pm,” she said.
Even though the partial school reopening was scheduled on the first day after the Diwali break, almost all schools appeared to have been meticulous in implementing the directorate of education (DoE) safety guidelines.
Students that reported to school were seen being thermally scanned while entering the school premises, and later being instructed to sanitise their hands. The seating was arranged with only 10 to 12 students in a class, with one or two benches in between left vacant. The entry and exit was being monitored to ensure there was no crowding.
“It was difficult for institutes to make arrangements as the guidelines for school reopening from the directorate of education came just four or five days prior,” said a teacher. “Schools were already on Diwali vacation when the reopening circular came, and on the very first day after vacation, the school was reopening. Institutes have worked during the vacation to put all the necessary arrangements in place.”