15% primary kids show up at govt schools in Chandigarh on Day 1

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 18

The first day of reopening of schools for primary school students saw a tepid response as only 15 per cent students of classes I to IV turned up at government schools today.

Private schools may start classes from Oct 25

We were waiting for clearance from parents. For classes I to IV, around 80 per cent parents have agreed to send their children to school. We are most likely going to start the classes from October 25. — HS Mamik, President, ISA

The UT Education Department opened schools for these classes today. In the case of classes VI to VIII, 57 per cent students attended government schools, while 38 per cent students of classes IX to XII showed up at the schools.

The schools had reopened for Class IX onwards in July. Classes VII and VIII were restarted in August and classes V and VI were reopened in September.

Wearing of mask, sanitisation of the campus, proper social distancing and other precautions were ensured. Students attended classes with the consent of their parents. The classes are being held both in the offline and online modes.

Some private schools have not yet opened classes for the primary wing. Atul Khanna, Director of Strawberry Fields School, said the school would be opened for the primary wing from October 25.

HS Mamik, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), said, “We were waiting for clearance from parents. For classes I to IV, around 80 per cent parents have agreed to send their children to school. We are most likely going to start the classes from October 25. The students from the senior wing are still turning up in low numbers and the figure is hovering over 40 per cent only. They are satisfied with online teaching and don’t want to come to school. The government should keep only one option of teaching so that more students return to school.”