Kolkata: Parent's concern prompts schools to tweak timings

KOLKATA: Parents of students from nursery to Class V - kids who have not been vaccinated - are worried about the fast spread of Covid in Kolkata and have been reaching out to schools with their queries and concerns. This has prompted several city schools to introduce staggered timings to prevent crowding during arrival and dispersal.
South Point School has prepared a schedule for junior classes who attend school four days a week. "We issued a circular on Thursday to inform them that the same system will be followed next week. All assessments have been kept on hold," said Krishna Damani, trustee.
Scottish Church Collegiate School has introduced staggered timings from Friday for different classes. Headmastr Bibhas Sanyal said, "Classes XI and XII students attended lessons before the tiffin break and they had an early dispersal on Friday. We have started staggered timings for all classes now. Next week, we have a school programme, so students will get a leave and we will have a week to screen the situation and take further steps."
Jodhpur Park Boys' School has made an arrangement for next week under which Class VII students will attend lessons on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Class VI students will do so on Tuesdays and Thursdays. "We have noticed a number of students of Class VI are unvaccinated, so they have been asked to come twice a week. Pre-primary and Class I students will attend classes every alternate day. This arrangement has been made for next week only," said Amit Sen Majumdar, headmaster.
The Heritage School principal Seema Sapru said, "Cases are increasing but parents don't want the school to shut down." Ballygunge Siksha Sadan principal Sunita Sen said, "These children have already faced a learning gap so class suspension is not the solution."