JOIN US Here’s the first take: None of the schools has received any guidelines on H1N1 influenza from the State health authorities although the circular was expected long ago.
While most schools said they hadn't received any official direction from the government, some have already formulated precautionary measures to curb the spread of the viral disease in their own way. For instance, the Ryan International Group issued a circular to all its schools, right after the first H1N1 influenza case broke out in the schools. "The circular, which is forwarded to principals and teachers, asks them to inform the students to use tissues. They are also planning to request parents to be forthcoming and share information with them if their child is sick," said Francis Joseph, executive head of Ryan International Group.
However, most schools say that, as it is very difficult to differentiate between common fever and H1N1 influenza symptoms, they don't want to create panic unnecessarily.
Sribala, principal of Carmel School, stated that this year, there were many cases of viral infections, unlike previous years. "So, we have been very particular in telling parents to keep their wards at home if they noticed even slight symptoms of fever. The student should be sent to school only after completely recovered," she said.
Even Mallya School hasn't incorporated any special precautionary measures. "We are taking standard precautionary measures by sending students home if they are found to ill," said the school's Pre-University coordinator Sneha Titus.
Meanwhile, RG Nadadur, Principal Secretary of Department of Primary and Secondary Education, said that he was planning to discuss the issue with Commissioner and other officials. "We need to find some way to send guidelines to schools," he said.