Nagpur: Wednesday’s decision by authorities to defer school reopening in rural Nagpur till December 13 has led to multiple queries being raised by teacher associations. Right from questioning the validity of RT-PCR tests, to expenditure on sanitization to allegations of non-transparent functioning of the department, is being discussed among academic groups.
Ashok Gavhankar, general secretary of Vidarbha Junior College Teachers Association (VJUCTA) said, “From November 17, our teachers have been lining up at the testing centres to get the RT-PCR tests done. This was all being done with the proposed reopening of schools on November 23 in mind. First the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) deferred it for city schools and now district collector too has pushed it ahead. But tests are continuing with no clarity on whether or not it will be valid later.”
He added that there was nothing against the test, but the haphazard planning. “Fix up on date and stick to it. Everything is kept till the end like a suspense thriller,” said Gavhankar.
Resident district collector Ravindra Khajanchi, who signed the order for school reopening postponement, said retesting will be subject to condition. “I think if they show symptoms, then definitely retest will be required,” said Khajanchi.
Purshottam Panchbhai, vice president of Maharashtra Rajya Rashtravadi Shikshak Sangh (MRRSS), said this flip-flop by authorities show their immaturity. “They do not take decision looking ahead. Health experts had already predicted a spike in Covid-19 cases post-Diwali. So there was no need to reopen schools immediately after. All decisions must be taken with a one month viewpoint, not with a short sighted one,” said Panchbhai.
Sundeep Gaikwad, vice president of School Headmasters Charitable Association (SHCA), said government must immediately release financial grant for schools. “Non-salary grants are anyway pending. But for this Covid-19 sanitization expenses, separate fund has to be released for schools. All preparations done by schools in rural areas have come to a naught. Now they have to do the same thing next month,” said Gaikwad.
The SHCA and VJUCTA have already decided not to reopen school until all students are tested.