-Mita Mukherjee
Two private schools in Kolkata shut down their campuses from Monday after a student and a teacher tested positive for Covid-19. At La Martiniere for Boys a Class X student tested positive for Covid-19 and at St Lawrence High School a teacher tested positive. The student and the teacher both went to the school on Friday.
The Class X student of La Martiniere attended the school for writing the rehearsal examination on the campus and at St Lawrence High School the teacher went to the campus for conducting online classes.
La Martiniere for Boys will remain closed till March 27 and St Lawrence High School till March 29. All remaining rehearsal examinations for Classes X and XII at La Martiniere will be held online, principal John Rafi said.
“A very unfortunate situation has cropped up. It has been reported to me that one of our Class X pupils appearing for the Onsite Rehearsal Examinations, has tested Covid-positive and hence we have decided to close down school for a week (Monday, 22nd March – Saturday, 27th March,” La Martiniere for Boys principal John Rafi said in a notice addressed to parents and students on Sunday.
“I laud each and every boy who had taken the courage and initiative to sit for the onsite examinations. Do not let this upset you in any way. Don’t be nervous or afraid, rather be courageous and continue to concentrate on your studies,” said the principal in the notice.
All the boys and teachers who attended school on Friday have been advised to undergo tests as a precautionary measure, the principal said.
“We have told all students and teachers (who were on duty on that day) as an advisory to undergo the test. The school and the teachers had been strictly following all the protocols and safety measures,’ Rafi told EducationWorld.
Father Sebastian James, principal St Lawrence High School said in-person classes for Class X students who will appear in the 2022 state Madhyamik examinations were being held following all the protocols and safety measures. The in-person classes will remain suspended from Monday.
“The entire syllabus for the students who will appear in the 2021 Madhyamik in June have been covered,” Father Sebsatian said.
“The teacher who tested positive was not in contact with any of the students as she was taking online classes. She was sent home immediately when she told us she was not feeling well,” Father Sebastian said.
All the teachers have now been asked to work from home and all classes will be held online. The in-person classes for Class X (2022) batch will resume on March 30.
Kasba Chittaranjan High School, a state-aided school in south Kolkata had been shut down on February 24 after a teacher tested positive for Covid-19.
After nine months closure, the West Bengal government had allowed all schools to start in-person classes for students of Classes IX to XII from February 12.
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