Kolkata: Online attendance dips in city schools
KOLKATA: Several schools have decided to advance the summer vacation following a rise in absenteeism as families struggle with Covid-19.
Sensing the need for a break now as students and teachers battle Covid, many private schools affiliated to CISCE and CBSE have either brought the summer vacation forward or is contemplating suspending online classes to declare summer holidays. Government schools have already announced summer vacation due to the pandemic situation.
School heads said while absenteeism was not an issue last year, it has become an issue now students of various age group are either suffering from Covid themselves or are unable to attend classes because of household chores as other family members are struck by the virus.
“Last year, the students led a regimented life at home and were less prone to falling ill. Also, the first wave spared children. But not so in the second wave,” said Sujoy Biswas, principal of the Ram Mohan Mission School.
Usually, students fall ill around March or September due to a change of season. During monsoon, too, many fall ill. In the past, dengue has also been a problem, particularly among students from southern and northeastern pockets of the city. But this time, students from across the city are facing Covid crisis.
Richard Gasper, principal of St Augustine’s Day School, Ripon Street said students were applying for sick leave citing Covid. “After receiving requests from parents to excuse them from the online sessions, sick leaves were granted,” Gasper said.
Krishna Damani, spokesperson of South Point School, too, said many students and teachers were reporting Covid. “We had arranged for substitute teachers to hold classes. We were flexible and allowed students to take leave,” he said. But with parents getting infected and sending kids to a separate place for quarantine, the school decided to give families some respite and bring forward summer break.
Heritage School principal Seema Sapru has sent a mail to the parents that highlights the challenges the school is facing with many teachers, students and their families contracting the infection.
Though most of the afflicted children are being treated at home, the weakness induced by the virus is so much that students are unable to attend online classes. Doctors too recommend complete rest. “Students must remain hydrated and consume adequate vitamin C and protein,” said a doctor.
Sensing the need for a break now as students and teachers battle Covid, many private schools affiliated to CISCE and CBSE have either brought the summer vacation forward or is contemplating suspending online classes to declare summer holidays. Government schools have already announced summer vacation due to the pandemic situation.
School heads said while absenteeism was not an issue last year, it has become an issue now students of various age group are either suffering from Covid themselves or are unable to attend classes because of household chores as other family members are struck by the virus.
“Last year, the students led a regimented life at home and were less prone to falling ill. Also, the first wave spared children. But not so in the second wave,” said Sujoy Biswas, principal of the Ram Mohan Mission School.
Usually, students fall ill around March or September due to a change of season. During monsoon, too, many fall ill. In the past, dengue has also been a problem, particularly among students from southern and northeastern pockets of the city. But this time, students from across the city are facing Covid crisis.
Richard Gasper, principal of St Augustine’s Day School, Ripon Street said students were applying for sick leave citing Covid. “After receiving requests from parents to excuse them from the online sessions, sick leaves were granted,” Gasper said.
Krishna Damani, spokesperson of South Point School, too, said many students and teachers were reporting Covid. “We had arranged for substitute teachers to hold classes. We were flexible and allowed students to take leave,” he said. But with parents getting infected and sending kids to a separate place for quarantine, the school decided to give families some respite and bring forward summer break.
Heritage School principal Seema Sapru has sent a mail to the parents that highlights the challenges the school is facing with many teachers, students and their families contracting the infection.
Though most of the afflicted children are being treated at home, the weakness induced by the virus is so much that students are unable to attend online classes. Doctors too recommend complete rest. “Students must remain hydrated and consume adequate vitamin C and protein,” said a doctor.
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