It now seems unlikely that the government will reopen offline classes for primary grades this academic year, considering the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases across the state.
As per the earlier announcement by the department of public instruction (DPI), Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar was supposed to have a meeting with the state technical advisory committee over Covid-19 on February 24 and 25, to discuss reopening of primary grades. But the meeting has still not been conducted.
According to sources from DPI, the technical advisory committee has not responded to the communication by the commissioner for public instruction, seeking permission to reopen offline classes for grades 1 to 5, at least under Vidyagama.
"Now, looking at the number of cases being reported every day, we don't think it is feasible to reopen classes for grades 1 to 5, considering the safety of children," said a senior official from the department.
The parents are also not in a mood to send their wards to school at this juncture.
Speaking to DH, Sameeksha, the mother of a class 4 child, said, "The school is already conducting the assessments and the academic year has almost come to an end. Sending children to schools at this point is both risky and unnecessary."
When it comes to government schools, the parents are not willing to send the children to school, following the unavailability of mid-day meals or milk there.
Currently, offline classes are being conducted for grades 6 to 12 across the state. But in Bengaluru Urban and districts bordering Kerala, the schools are functioning only for grade 8 and above.
(Published 15 March 2021, 16:44 IST)
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