BENGALURU: Despite fears over a third Covid-19 wave, attendance in BBMP schools has significantly improved with nearly 76% of students in grades 8 to 10 and 60% in grades 6 and 7 turning up for on-campus classes.
The pandemic has severely impacted the education system with schools being closed for close to two years. Children have not only missed out on academics, but also camaraderie and games with friends and classmates. With fresh Covid cases falling, the government, after much deliberation, allowed schools to reopen in a phased manner.
BBMP schools, which largely cater to children from the economically weaker sections, have shown the way as students are keen on attending classes. Data accessed by TOI shows of the 808 students enrolled in classes 6 and 7, 60% have been attending oncampus classes. And of the 6,590 students in grades 8 to 10, a tad under 76% are back in classrooms.
“Schools in Byraveshwara Nagar and Herohalli have more than 600 students in classes 8 to 10 on their rolls and more than 55% of students are attending classes,” said Shankar Reddy, director of education (BBMP). “Since most students are from poor families, they have no recourse to online classes, and prefer regular classes.”
A principal from a BBMP school said: “We did not expect such a good response, but we are more than happy, and attendance is rising on a daily basis.” The principal said besides learning, children are keen on catching up with friends too.
At the BBMP high school in Padarayanapura, once a Covid hotspot, 362 of the total 457 students in grades 8 to 10 have been turning up for lessons in classrooms. “Considering the first outbreak was in Padarayanapura, we wondered if parents would send their children. But those worries were unfounded,” said a senior BBMP officer (education).
A similar pattern was noticed in classes 6 and 7 in Marutimandira ward. “Marutimandira ward was a containment zone for the longest of times during the second wave. So, we didn’t expect many students to turn up. But we were wrong,” said a teacher of a BBMP primary school in the ward.
BBMP is now persuading parents of these children to get vaccinated. “We have directed headmasters and principals to check the vaccination status of parents. If they have not got it, we will inoculate them to ensure their children do not contract the virus,” Reddy said.
