The Hassan Unaided Schools Managements Association has raised a complaint with the department of public instruction over government schools conducting in-person classes, unmindful of the government order asking them not to do so. They have threatened to follow suit and reopen schools if the department fails to act against government schools.

The state government, in a circular issued on June 4 permitted schools to conduct only online classes in all schools unless permitted otherwise, in the wake of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While several private school managements have been batting for the commencement of in-person classes, citing low severity and minuscule numbers of Covid-19 infections among children, they have complained that government schools themselves are violating government norms.

In June, the state’s department of public instruction had asked government schools to reach students either through online mediums and in the absence of access to technology, instruct students to learn from the lessons aired on Doordarshan and radio. Students were allowed to gather in small groups in schools only to collect their worksheets.

In a letter addressed to the deputy director of public instruction, Hassan, the managements have said that such a move by the government schools has led to parents questioning the intentions of private schools not starting classes on school premises.

“We understand that they are functioning based on oral permission given by authorities in the education department. This is in violation of government norms. Parents are approaching us asking to commence in-person classes, citing government schools as an example. They want to know why private schools have not commenced classes when government schools have. Authorities must take action against such principals who have violated the rules and gathered students in large numbers,” the letter states.

The private schools association has also threatened that should the government fail to act against this, even private schools would commence in-person classes starting on August 9. 

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