LUCKNOW: After being closed for about one and a half years, the hustle and bustle was back in the primary schools as tiny tots, full of enthusiasm, returned to classrooms on Wednesday. The primary schools had briefly reopened on March 1 this year but were shut after two weeks in the wake of Covid second wave.
About 55% attendance was recorded in primary and pre-primary sections on the first day of the academic session 2021-22.
“The thrill of being back at school was clearly visible among Children and they were greeted with balloons and toffees,” said Hoerner College principal Mala Singh Mehra. The school recorded 75% attendance among pre-schoolers and 44% in the primary section.
At City Montessori Schools, 61% students attended the class.
CMS founder Jagdish Gandhi said, “Kids were overjoyed to be back in school. We ensured complete safety of our students by strictly following Covid protocols.”
At most schools, parents came to pick and drop their wards. Schools followed Covid protocols which included staggered timings that made entry and exit easier. While some schools sprinkled flowers, others set out a decorated campus with a melodious school bands playing for them.
“It’s a great feeling to return to schools. Home was getting too boring. Also, online classes were difficult to understand. Network issues and constant strain on eyes added to the problem,’ said Mridu Chit Mishra, a class 1 student of St Joseph’s School.
Head of St Joseph’s School, Anil Agarwal, said, “Students attended schools with the consent of parents. Students went through the sanitisation tunnel followed by thermal scanning. They were seated at a distance to avoid contact.” The school recorded 58% attendance.
At public schools too, the response was overwhelming. A reality check by TOI found that at primary schools in Mubarakhpur and Khargapur Jaagir, kids were present but teachers were missing. “Finally, we got rid of repeated scolding from our parents. We had fun with our friends,” said Shikha Nishad, a class 4 student of a government school in Lucknow.
