PUNE: Private schools in the city are questioning the timing of the state’s decision to reopen offline schools with Diwali vacations starting within three weeks.
The school managements said the announcement of reopening and shutting down of schools was disturbing the schedule. The teachers also said that October was time for mid-term exams and it would not be possible to conduct exams offline especially in urban areas as not all parents would be confident enough to send their children to school immediately.
The Podar International School is planning to reopen and conduct the mid-term exams in online and offline manner. The school’s representatives said initially they intend to start with 50% attendance with parent’s consent.
Smita Patterson, principal of the school, said, “Our mid–term exams are getting over on September 29 in the online mode. But yes, the CICSE Board is going to conduct semester I for Stds 10 and 12 through online mode from November 15. If things go well, the pandemic remains under control and the parents give consent for their wards to appear for the Semester I from school, we will be ready to conduct it. It will not be mandatory for the students; instead a blended system of attempting online exam from school/ home will be in place. The choice would be of the parents and students.”
Principal of M S Golwalkar school, Leena Talathi, said, “We are trying to reopen on October following all safety norms and guidelines given by the government. We may also think of conducting offline exams by maintaining social distancing, temperature checks, screening, wearing mask.”
Principal of Sanskriti School, Bhukum, Damini Joshi, said the school was working out the modalities for reopening school for students from 8-12 after seeking consent from the parent community.
“We have prepared detailed SOPs going beyond what is laid down by the government. Our priority will be to bring the children back to school and offer them a safe and healthy environment. As for mid-term exams for Std 10 and XII, they will be conducted offline. This exercise will help prepare the students for the board examinations,” she said.
Principal of Sindhu Vidya Bhavan, Pradnya Suryawanshi, said they are planning to reopen as they received the notification. Mid-term exams are planned both online and offline. We will conduct as per the situation. We may start with 50% attendance.”
