Excited students back to school in Punjab

LUDHIANA: Amid all pandemic precautions, schools reopened for classes X to XII in the city on Monday. Students were excited to be back on the campus. In some schools, teachers welcomed students by clapping for them.
The institutes had taken written consent of parents and guardians for allowing students to the premises. The attendance in almost all schools was between 50% and 80%.
BCM Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh Road, principal DP Guleria said, “We are running the school in two shifts, 7.40am-11am and 11.20am-2pm. From 11am to 11.20am, the staff sanitized the classrooms. Fifty per cent students came to attend the offline classes.”
Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, principal Navita Puri said, “On the first day, the attendance was around 80%. We have divided the total strength, willing to come to school, in two parts. For instance, if there are 800 students willing to come for offline classes, 400 will come one day and the rest 400 the next day. The entire school premise is being sanitized. We have also made circles in the corridors to ensure distancing while making queues.”
Nankana Sahib Public School principal Harmeet Kaur said, “The body temperature of all the students and teachers was checked before they were allowed in. Besides, it is mandatory to wear a mask and carry a sanitizer. The school has also kept spare masks and sanitizers. It’s good to see children back on the campus. On the first day, 65% of the total strength came to attend classes.”
The government schools had also organized parents and teachers’ meet on the day of reopening. The aided and associated schools under the Punjab School Education Board also witnessed about 65% attendance.
Some private schools are opening from August 2.
Director of the chain of Greenland schools, Rajesh Rudra, said, “The government had announced that if Covid situation remains under control, the schools may open for all classes. We are waiting for August 2 to open schools.”
DCM Presidency School, Chandigarh Road, witnessed 40% attendance, BCM School, Dugri, 65%, GNPS, Sarabha Nagar, 30%, and BCM School, Shastri Nagar, 75%.