Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 9

Around 23.7 per cent students of class VII to XII at government schools are attending physical classes, revealed the data shared by the UT Education Department today. The government schools opened for classes VII and VIII after a gap of one year today.

Of those physically attending classes, a majority of students are from class IX and X. Only 11 per cent students are from junior wings i.e. class VII and VIII, which shows that there is still some amount of hesitancy among the parents of younger children.

Today, a total of 15,763 students attended classes in government schools. The schools have been shut for almost a year since the pandemic hit the city in March last year. The schools reopened several times during this period but were again shutdown as cases started rising in August last year, and then in March this year.

The number of students coming to schools barely touched 3,000 last year as the fear of Covid loomed large. This time, Chandigarh has achieved a remarkable feat of 95 per cent Covid-19 vaccination coverage with first dose and daily cases have been ranging between three and five. While the parents of students of higher classes are willing to send their wards to schools, those of younger children are still hesitant in view of no vaccine for children and their susceptibility to the virus.

The UT Health Department has ensured that the school staff are vaccinated so that children attend schools in a safe environment.

Director, School Education, Rubinderjit Singh Brar said: “Physical attendance in classrooms is quiet encouraging. Our heads and inspecting officers are keeping a close watch regarding the Covid protocol. The field trial is scheduled for next month but safety and health of our students and teachers remain our first priority.”

Meanwhile, private schools in the city have not opened up for classes VII and VIII yet.

“In the wake of the random reports of rising numbers of positive cases in some states, most parents are not willing to send their kids to schools, though the latter are excited about the reopening of schools and are looking forward to meet their friends. Even though the private schools have not opened up yet, the kids are insisting upon parents to send consent forms for sending them to schools.

“However, practically speaking, since the kids are not being vaccinated and most of the hospital OPDs have not started functioning yet, it is not an easy decision for parents to send their kids to schools. The administration should review the situation practically, and open schools only when the situation is so safe to open up all medical facilities and hospitals too,” said Nitin Goyal, president, Chandigarh Parents’ Association.