The Maharashtra government’s approval to reopen schools across the state from today (January 24) witnessed a mixed response as cities like Pune and Aurangabad are yet to take a decision on resumption physical classes. In Mumbai, most schools likely to introduce a phase-wise resumption of K-12 classes have continued to hold online classes until then.
The Maharashtra government had announced reopening of K-12 schools on Friday, January 21. While the state government’s school reopening standard operating procedures (SOPs) have made offline attendance for students optional, all students attending physical classes are required to submit parental consent forms to the school.
Several schools in Mumbai said they were awaiting parental consent before beginning regular classrooms. “It has only been two days since the government made the announcement. Schools cannot be expected to begin physical classrooms so soon after all we are still to receive detailed guidelines. We are also in the process of collecting parental approvals,” said a principal of a Mumbai-based girls’ school who preferred to remain anonymous.
Schools followed a hybrid system of teaching when schools first reopened in November 2020. Thus several schools prefer continuing with their online classes until parents are comfortable sending their wards to schools. “We already had a good hybrid system in place then. We will work around the same to include all our students from January 31. We will do a gap analysis with our pre-primary and primary students to know how much catch-up is required and allow our secondary students to clear doubts and practice writing on the days they attend physical classes,” says Rohan Bhatt, chairman, Children’s Academy Group of Schools, Mumbai.
Mumbai’s municipal corporation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had allowed offline classes following the state government’s approval. Municipal schools in Mumbai saw as much as 50 percent attendance today. “The children were very excited to be back to school. We already had 50 percent attendance today and more students are expected to join over the next few days,” says Bageshree Kerkar, principal, Worli Seaface Mumbai Public English School.
The Maharashtra government had announced the closure of schools and colleges in the state (January 8) until February 15 as the state reported a rise in the number of COVID cases. However, growing parental opposition to school closures along with a drop in COVID cases in the state led to the government allowing the reopening of schools.
The government guidelines allow local administration to take the final call on the reopening of schools. It also states local administration coordinate with school management to ensure all eligible students in the 15-18 age group are vaccinated at school itself.
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