Despite strict protocols parents reluctant to send children to school, data shows

Even as city schools reopened for Std VIII to XII earlier this week after one-and-a-half years, parents' anxiety over sending their wards to schools seems more prominent than schools' readiness to welcome them. In Mumbai, around 75 per cent eligible schools reopened but only 26 per cent students resumed attending schools in person, data has shown. The state education department has been collating data on reopening of schools from across the state to understand the response which shows low response from parents whereas schools are more open to the idea.

Even as the overall observation remains the same for the state as that of Mumbai, figures for the state are a bit higher with over 79 per cent schools reopening and over 34 per cent students attending classes. As per the data, there are 4,407 schools in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region which are eligible for reopening as per government guidelines and these schools have a total of 12,46,577 students. However, only 3,329 or 75.54 per cent schools have reopened and 1,32,679 or 26.55 per cent students opted for offline schooling.

Students outside Balmohan Vidyamandir in Dadar. File pic

Civic-run schools had the most positive response with 100 per cent eligible schools (755) reopening and 43.51 per cent students (30,250 out of 69,523) reporting to offline schools. In case of other schools, 78.08 per cent or 1,386 have reopened with only 22.29 per cent students (1,62,089 out of 7,28,280) joining offline classes.

"This was expected as parents are still anxious about sending their wards to schools. But now that the process has started, the number will gradually increase as parents will learn from experiences of their peers as well as others around them. Many parents are waiting to see others' experiences before they decide. Schools, too, will learn to adapt to the new normal and instill more confidence among parents," said a senior official from the state education department.

1,32,679
No. of students who opted for offline schooling

4,407
No. of schools eligible to reopen in MMR