HYDERABAD: Sixty-nine per cent of parents want schools to reopen from April 2021 or after, revealed a survey by LocalCircle, an online platform. The survey recorded responses of 8,695 parents, and 23% said schools should reopen in January.
The survey, conducted to understand if parents’ hesitancy level to reopen schools has reduced since the previous survey in September, indicated that the percentage of parents who want schools to open only in the next session doubled in the past three months, from 34% to 69%.
“The fact that there has been an increase in percentage of parents wanting schools to open only in the next session come April 2021, as indicated by the LocalCircles survey suggests that parents are worried about their children’s education and now with declining caseload the balance is tilting towards education rather than fear of Covid-19,” read the survey.
The survey also tried to get parents’ pulse on getting Covid vaccines if they were made available to children. Only 26% approved of their children receiving the vaccine if made available by April 2021, or before.
Meanwhile, members of Telangana Recognized Schools Management Association, which conducted a similar survey, said many parents, at least in Telangana, are ready to send their children to schools. “Our survey indicated that parents, especially of Class 8 to Class 10 students are willing to send their children to schools,” said Shekar Rao Y, TRSMA.
UoH for phased return of PG students
The University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Tuesday announced a phased return to ‘in-person’ classes for PG students. Appa Rao Podile, the vice-chancellor, approved a task force recommendation to permit about 148 final semester students of the Science Schools and Sarojini Naidu School to return to the campus for completion of lab or practice courses. “This is the beginning of a gradual process that will continue through the next couple of months,” read a varsity statement.