HYDERABAD: In clear violation of state government orders, budget schools across Telangana have decided to discontinue online classes — for students of class 6 to class 8 — and return to physical classrooms from February 25.
Confirming this on Thursday, members of the Telangana Recognised School Management Association (TRSMA) — umbrella organisation for these schools — said, beginning February 15, they will not offer any online classes to students enrolled in classes 6 to 10. Reason: Financial constraints coupled with poor learning experience of students.
There are about 10,000 budget schools across Telangana, of which 4,500 to 5,000 are located within the GHMC limits. As per the government diktat, no school management can discontinue online classes or insist on physical attendance, even for students of classes 9 and 10 who have resumed school from February 1. “Students, teachers and school managements are suffering because of the current arrangement. While the learning gap is increasing for a student, teachers and managements are struggling to make ends meet. The only solution to all these problems is to reopen schools,” said Y Shekhar Rao, president, TRSMA. He said that they have been waiting for too long for schools to reopen and have already submitted multiple representations to concerned officials, including one submitted to the education minister on Thursday.
Even teachers have taken a hit because of this delay in reopening, managements argue. While pre-Covid these schools had over three lakh teachers, most of their contracts were not renewed during the pandemic and their salaries withheld. Even post resumption of classes 9 and 10, only 10% teachers have been asked to rejoin work.
“AP has already reopened classes even for primary school students. The same is the case with at least 10 other states. Why are we still forced to wait,” asked Rao maintaining that irrespective of state’s stance, these schools are certain to start physical classes this month.
Stressing financial constraints, managements said not even 15% to 20% of parents have started paying fees for the academic year 2020-21. As a result, If schools are reopened, at least some parents will pay the fee, they reason. “On the one hand the state is asking us not to collect fees, but on the other hand it is asking us to continue both online and offline classes. How is this even possible?” said S Srinivas Reddy, who runs a private school in Amberpet and also the honorary president of TRSMA. He added: “Managements don’t have resources to offer both online and offline classes. If parents are unwilling to send their kids to school, they can opt for digital classes offered by the state through Doordarshan and TSAT.”