SILCHAR, Sept 21 - Following the Standard Operating Procedures issued by the government to restore academic environment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and colleges across the State reopened partially on Monday for classes 9 to 12 after being shut for more than five months. Schools and colleges in Cachar district also resumed. As per the government order, parents and guardians need to submit consent letters citing no objection in sending their children amidst the COVID-19 situation.
Cachar Inspector of Schools Semina Yesmin Aara Rahman said there was a rush of students in schools in rural areas, but schools in towns saw a scanty turnout. A similar picture was seen in colleges. �Schools have reopened following the government order. There were 50 per cent teachers and staff and safety measures were taken and hand sanitizers and masks were kept ready. We shall do our best to maintain social distancing and handwashing norms when the students are inside the premises, but it will be a challenge when they are returning homes. The students and their parents must realise the situation and make efforts to obey the rules,� the Inspector of Schools told The Assam Tribune.
Rahman said she has interacted with many parents regarding the consent letters. �Many parents were found to be confused over the consent letters for sending their children to school. They had to be told that while online classes are in progress, it is absolutely voluntary for them to send their children to schools assessing the circumstances,� she said.
Gauripur Correspondent adds: As per instruction of the Education Department, high schools at Gauripur, Balazan, Golokganj, Agomoni, Halakura, Chagolia, Satrasal, Kaldoba reopened on Monday, but attendance of students was very poor.
At PC Institution in Gauripur, out of 150 students in class 9, only four students attended class in the nearby Town JB School. At Jagamohan Vidyapith in Golokganj, only 20 students out of 200 of class 9 attended classes.
The same condition was seen in other schools at Gauripur, Golokganj and Agomoni.
This correspondent met a large number of guardians in Gauripur area who cited the example of Delhi where schools are still closed. They were of the opinion that the government order to reopen schools should be reconsidered, as the threat of community spread of the COVID-19 disease was still creating panic among the people, and therefore they were not willing to send their children to school.
The parents urged the government to reconsider the order for safety of students till the disease is fully controlled and vaccine is available for the common people.
Udalguri Correspondent adds: Schools and colleges in Udalguri district witnessed a negligible number of students � most of whom came without consent letters from their parents and guardians due to lack of proper communication.
In Udalguri town, students of Higher Secondary second year were seen in less numbers attending the first day of reopening of schools and colleges. Very few students of class 10 came to their schools, and most of them were without consent letters from their parents and guardians. Authorities at a girls� HS school later provided the students masks and consent letter forms to be filled in by their parents and guardians.
A section of guardians welcomed the government decision to reopen schools and colleges but didn�t support producing the consent letters. They asked why should the government not be responsible if their children fall ill in this critical situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guardians also urged the government to rethink on the consent letter issue and instead provide fool-proof health security to the students.
