Covid-19 third wave sends classes back online in Mumbai

As schools prep to reopen after Xmas break, many decide to ask kids from Stds I to VII to stay home; classes for older kids continue

Many schools are back to the online mode from today when they restart after the Christmas vacation. Seeing a constant rise in the number of COVID-19 infections, schools have decided to wait and watch for a few days before resuming offline classes. Calls by concerned parents too played a pivotal role in the decision. 

In most schools, Stds I to VII are back online while students from higher classes will be allowed to attend on premises.

Students pray at DS High School in Sion. Pic/Atul Kamble

But in some schools it is online mode for all, except for board year students. While private schools have already taken the decision and informed parents; government schools are still waiting for clarity, as there is no such directive from authorities on whether to continue offline classes amid the rising COVID cases. Government schools will reopen today.

“With numbers of COVID cases rising we have deferred offline reopening until further clarity. The schools shall resume from Monday for academics, as the Christmas vacation gets over; but it will be through online mode,” said Fr. Francis Swamy, principal at the St. Mary’s School in Mazgaon adding that same decision is applicable to St. Xavier’s School in Fort and Campion School in Colaba.

Students outside Balmohan Vidyamandir at Dadar when schools reopened for higher standards on October 4. Pic/Ashish Raje

Teachers also concerned

A senior teacher from a school in Dadar, said, “With COVID cases increasing, it is not advisable for teachers to travel too, along with students. It would be better to continue online until we are sure of safety again.” Many schools have decided to hold physical classes only for higher classes to ensure less number of students and teachers on campus.

But some schools are going to hold offline classes too. Principal of DPS Nerul, J Mohanty, said, “We will be offering both online as well as offline classes as per the time before we disbursed for Christmas vacation. Parents can decide if they want to send their wards for offline class. Until there is any guideline regarding closing of schools from the authorities, we will continue as per the old directives.”

But government schools are demanding directives from the authorities. “We cannot take the decision to stop offline classes without any directive from the government. We will wait for it. Parents are approaching us with their concerns. But we suggest they make use of the liberty given to them to decide whether they want to send children to school. Staff too have concerns to reach school amid the rising COVID cases. It would be better if there is some clarity on schools,” said the principal of a government-aided school, adding that they are currently preparing data of students eligible for the vaccine dose to submit it to the government. 

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