Nagpur: Some well-known CBSE schools in rural areas are all set to reopen from Monday, while others are awaiting the mandatory parental consent forms before taking a final call. Nagpur rural schools have been allowed to reopen from Monday, whereas city schools are closed till at least January 3.
District education officer Chintaman Vanjari held an online meet with rural area school principals and briefed them about the modalities. Vanjari said, “The reopening of schools is being allowed so that students who do not have access to online learning are not deprived of education. We expect all schools to follow safety guidelines for both teachers and students.”
He clarified that under no circumstances should online teaching be stopped. “The physical reopening is not to be construed as stopping of online classes. That part has to continue as per schedule with physical classrooms too being made part of the academic calendar,” said Vanjari.
On an average, consent has come for 15% of eligible students. In Maharashtra, only classes from Std IX-XII are allowed to reopen currently.
While schools are keen to reopen, many are preferring not to do so immediately. Rohan Kapai, manager of Modern School, said, “We will start Std X and XII from December 28, and Std IX and XI from January 4.”
Kanika Anand, principal of Royal Gondwana Public School, said, “We will start from January first week.”
Prakash Somalwar, secretary of Somalwar Academy Education Society, said numbers are important. “We need to get consent forms in substantial numbers and only then it will make sense to reopen. If just 10 students are ready to come, then it is not logistically possible to reopen schools,” said Somalwar, whose CBSE branch is located in rural area.
Bhavans BP Vidya Mandir has two branches, Ashti and Koradi, in rural jurisdiction. Annapoorni Shastri, director of BVM (Nagpur Kendra), said, “No decision has been taken yet on reopening. We are awaiting the mandatory consent from parents.”
Inderpreet Singh Tuli, director of Edify School (Nagpur), said, “We have reached out to our parents and sought their consent. Once their replies come, we will decide on the next step.”
Central India Public School (CIPS) has both its branches in rural Nagpur, and director Pravin Tiwari says parents don’t seem very keen. “We have sent consent forms, but till date we have not received permission from them. So, for now, no reopening plans,” said Tiwari.
SCHOOLS REOPENING FROM NEXT WEEK
School of Scholars (Wanadongri)
Raisoni Vidyaniketan (CBSE)
Delhi Public School (Kamptee Road)
Montfort (Wardha Road)
Ira International
Podar International (Besa and Koradi)