Maharashtra school reopening: Parents’ consent is of utmost importance, says govt

A staffer checks a student’s temperature at St Anne’s Girl High School, on October 4

With schools in Maharashtra set to reopen for all stds from December 1, parents' consent will be of most importance, as per the Government Resolution issued on Monday evening. All teaching and non-teaching staff must be fully vaccinated, every school should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised and should have a health clinic, stated the GR which is almost identical to the earlier GR issued when schools were allowed to open for Stds VIII to XII.

After the state Cabinet announced the reopening of schools last week, schools and parents were waiting for the GR with specific guidelines. The Health Directorate, too, issued the guidelines on Sunday. Now that the details are out, schools can start preparing for the safe return of the students and parents can expect consent surveys from their respective schools.

The clause asking teachers to show their Covid test report has again sparked some criticism. A teacher said, "This clause was questioned last time also. This asks teachers to do a Covid test 48 hours before the first day of the school, and only those with negative test result will be allowed to begin work. But we fail to understand the point."

Spokesperson for the Mumbai School Principals Association Pandurang Kengar said, "Teachers are going to come to school every day; do they expect RT-PCR tests for teachers every two-three days? What is the point of asking for a test report on the first day? Who is going to pay for it?"

Teachers also said that some of the guidelines are causing more confusion than clarity. Another point of concern is that there should be no games for students of Std I to IV. "In fact, co-curricular activities of any kind are not allowed, as per the guidelines; then why mention only primary classes at one point? Additionally, the guidelines also mention points to take care of for school transport, whereas there is still no clarity on whether school buses are really going to operate," said another teacher.

The GR also suggests that schools have Covid committees to prepare reopening plans and to keep constant vigil. It also asks local education officers to conduct random visits to schools to check if protocol is followed and submit reports to the deputy director's office.

1 Dec
Day when schools will reopen for all standards