– Reshma Ravishanker

Even as Karnataka is gearing up to prepare for the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which is anticipated to affect children the most, no recommendation has been made on the timeframe for commencement of offline classes by the expert committee on Covid-19 formed by the government.

Confirming that no such suggestion has been made regarding the commencement of in-person classes, Dr P G Girish, an executive member of the committee said that they have made no such recommendations regarding starting of physical classes in schools or colleges.

“Unlike what is stated in several reports, the committee has not said that schools and colleges can be reopened on any given date. This is a matter that is to be dealt with by the department of education and associations of parents and schools. We are focussed on the health aspects of being prepared to unlock during the second wave or preparedness for the third wave,” he said.

Sources told EducationWorld that although one such recommendation was put forth by a committee member, a majority, and the head disagreed to put forth any directions in this regard as it did not concern them and would amount to overruling any decision was taken by the government.

The interim report formed by the committee will be submitted to the chief minister on Monday, following which it could be subject to changes.

“It is very difficult to make a suggestion until a large majority of the population is vaccinated. The virus is behaving in a very peculiar pattern. We are also anticipating the third wave much in advance – sometime late in July as against previously predicted to make an onset in October. It is anticipated that children could be worst affected because they have not received even one dose of the vaccine. We are recommending better infrastructure in hospitals and improving preparedness to gear up for the second wave,” said Dr Girish.  

It may be recollected that the department of public instruction has framed guidelines, in preparedness to commence classes for the academic year 2021-22, specifying details on the measures to be taken while conducting online classes for primary and secondary school students across state board schools in Karnataka.

Responding to this, Dr K Sudhakar, minister for health and family welfare said, “We are unaware of this. It is a decision that lies with the chief minister and education minister.”

Later, education minister S Suresh Kumar, in an official statement, said that the department has not has access to the reports and a response would be made only after the report is placed before the chief minister. 

Also read: 769 children affected with Covid-19 in Mysuru