So many surveys, but nobody spoke to us: Teachers

A worker cleans a classroom at Shindewadi Municipal School in Dadar East before its reopening in November last year. File pic

Days after a survey conducted by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) revealed that over 81 per cent of parents are willing to send their wards to school, teachers and school authorities have said that they, too, should be included in such surveys. They say safe reopening of schools would ultimately be their responsibility. The bigger question remains whether schools are ready to reopen.

While the survey has received the highest number of responses compared to others that have been conducted so far, school administrations and teachers are of the opinion that their voices and concerns are missing.

Schools will need to make special arrangements for sanitisers, thermometers and oxymeters before opening up. File pic

Pandurang Kengar, secretary of the Mumbai School Principals' Association, said, "The survey should have included all stakeholders, which include school managements and teachers too. After all, safe reopening of schools is ultimately going to be their responsibility. Schools require funds to make special arrangements starting from hand-sanitisers to thermometers and oximeters among all. Last year, when schools were reopened in some parts of the state, the government's finance department was going to help in acquiring all the required equipment and to make other arrangements to successfully implement standard operating procedures regarding Covid-19 safety in schools, but nothing of that sort has actually happened as of now."

Also read: Maharashtra: Teachers of civic schools take classes to homes of students in Aurangabad

‘Just surveys won't help'

Talking about how surveys and decisions on paper were not really going to help in this matter, Shivnath Darade from Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad, said, "Teachers will have to attend school as it is their job, but what about their vaccinations? We have been pressing for it for so long. In urban areas, teachers come from far away places and they don't have any convenient travel facility yet. All possible aspects should be discussed before taking the decision of reopening schools as safety should be the highest priority."

While the survey has found that most parents want to send their wards to school, many are still not very sure of it. Rajiv Shah, a parent from Ghatkopar said, "I think parents will be the happiest if regular school starts as it is getting difficult to keep the children engaged at home. But are we completely sure that it is safe? Also because now we know about the impending third wave." However, another parent, Pushpa Gupta, who works as a domestic help, said, "Everything is open now, except trains. Then why not schools? Our children will lag behind if they lose another academic year. Like other businesses, schools can reopen with a set of regulations."

Jaywant Kulkarni, a teacher from Gandhi Balmandir School in Kurla said, "The academic loss these children are facing is for real. But just a decision on paper won't help in reopening schools. Both schools and the government need to work hand in hand in terms of taking responsibility for a safe environment."

Schools seek clarity

While parents and teachers are divided on their opinion, school administrations are taking a step back and demanding more clarity.

Aashirwad Lokhande, principal of Sailee International School and Junior college, said, "We also feel that online schooling is not a very feasible option, but then does that mean we put the health of so many children in jeopardy? Once the child enters school, it is completely our responsibility, but who will take responsibility if anything happens on the way to school and back home? While this is the basic concern, it is also important to note whether all schools are equipped to adhere to the SOPs. Economically sound schools may be able to provide all the facilities but can non-aided private schools do the same? There are many questions we need to find answers to before reopening schools."

The SCERT had launched the online survey last week to know about parents' opinions. The survey received almost 7 lakh responses, out of which more than 3.5 lakh were from urban areas of Maharashtra. This was followed by 2.4 lakh responses from rural areas and 86,000 from semi-urban areas. It further received a total of 1,10,193 responses from parents in Mumbai, 39,221 from Thane and 23,339 from Palghar.

Out of the total 6,90,820 responses received, 5,60,818 parents have said that they are eager to send their wards to school. The highest number of responses (2,86,990) was from parents whose wards are in Stds IX and X. This is closely followed by 2,15,590 responses from parents whose children are in Stds VI to VIII. The lowest number of responses (19,273) was from parents whose kids study in nursery.

6,90,820
No. of responses the survey has received