Govt asks DCs to take call as parents seek online classes
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Apr 2: Amid a surge in COVID-19 positive cases in Kashmir and with students and teachers in the schools also getting affected, the parents today voiced their concerns stating that they are worried about the safety of their children as the physical classes continue in Valley schools.
The parents said that the children in schools are prone to catching the infection as several students, teachers across Kashmir have already tested positive for the COVID-19 despite the shift system along with other precautionary measures.
Several associations of parents have also submitted representations to the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and other officials stating that the students must be given an option of either attending the physical or the online one.
While the administration has not taken any in this regard so far, several schools across Kashmir along with the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar have already been closed down after the COVID-19 positive cases were reported there.
Asma Goni, Convenor, Parents Association of Privately Administered Schools (PAPAS) told Excelsior that they are not for the closure of schools but seeking options for the students to protect themselves amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
“By allowing the students to attend the schools physically, we are putting the families of teachers as well as students at risk. We are not saying to close down the schools, however, there is a provision of carrying out the online assignment-based education which must be explored at this point,” she said.
Notably, several parents want their wards to attend their schools; however, at the same time, there is another section of parents who seek online mode of education as cases increase.
“There has to be an option for the parents who do not want to send their children to schools due to the risk,” Goni said.
Pertinent to mention here, earlier, when the schools were thrown open after remaining closed for more than a year, the school managements had sought consent from the parents before sending their children to their respective schools.
The parents said that the Government is not ready to take any responsibility as the parents were made to submit the consent forms. “If it is all up to the parents, then they should be allowed to decide in this regard,” said Muhammad Rafi, a parent.
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Aijaz Asad told Excelsior that as per the Government, the preferred mode of education is online keeping in view a spurt in cases. “We will take a call in this regard soon,” he said.
Also, an order issued here by the Government in the wake of a surge in cases, today directed the concerned Districts Magistrates of the Union Territory to take a call on the continuation of academic activities in their respective districts.
Khursheed Ahmad Khoja, President, Parents Association of Private Schools Kashmir (PAPSK) told Excelsior that they have given a representation to the Administration seeking the same relief to the students.
“There is a need of keeping both the options-offline, online-open for the students and impressed that those who want to attend the physical classes should be allowed to do so and those who do not want, they should be given an option of online classes,” he said.
He said that there should be no compulsions for making the students attend the physical classes as it exposes them to risk. He also added that the schools are not following the SOPs, while the concerned departments have failed in ensuring compliance of SOPs on the ground.
Health experts on the other side said that that the schools can prove to be dangerous at this point as we cannot expect children to follow the necessary SOPs. “The children must stay away from schools till a good percentage of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19,” a doctor said.
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