NASHIK/ KOLHAPUR/ AURANGABAD: Local education authorities are taking cautious steps towards reopening schools, even as parents are split over the government decision to open schools physically.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is thinking of initially reopening some schools, which are located near its urban health centres. NMC sources said it would not be possible for NMC to set up health centres in all its schools by October 4 as per the government decision.
The sources from Nashik Zilla Parishad said that since the guidelines were issued late on Friday, a meeting of education and health departments will be held on Monday after which the steps for opening schools would be announced.
The private schools in Nashik, however, said they were eager to reopen but would wait for the guidelines from the respective authorities. “The schools staff is vaccinated and covid-appropriate infrastructure is also ready. Most schools also have infirmaries. All depends upon the parents’ consent and the guidelines,” Himgauri Adke, the president of Association of Nashik Schools – association of 35 ICSE and CBSE schools in the city said.
In Kolhapur, the municipal corporation has decided to conduct a workshop of the school headmasters or principals to make them aware of the guidelines issued by the state government. As many as 50,718 students study in classes 8-12 in 112 schools in Kolhapur city alone.
“We are going to form committees to guide the schools to run classes as per the guidelines. Also, squads will be formed to carry out surprise checks of the schools. All teachers and non-teaching staff is at least partially vaccinated,” said Shankar Yadav, school administrator of KMC.
A total of around 361 schools located within municipal limits of Aurangabad are set to restart for classes 8-12. Ramnath Thore, education officer with Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, said the civic administration would issue necessary order by early next week, detailing the SOP for reopening.
Regional assistant director of education, B B Chavan said around 2,137 schools from rural areas of Aurangabad have been already operating classes for class 5 and above since September 6.
The parents are, however, split over sending the wards to school. Renuka Beedkar, a parent, said the government should have waited till Diwali for schools to resume considering the possibility of the third wave of Covid and rise in cases post the festive season.
Sanket Thakre from Nashik, whose daughter is in class 10, feels that she would benefit from the school reopening. “At home, they tend to get lethargic. Meeting friends and classmates will also boost their spirits,” he said.
Maharashtra English School Trustees Association (MESTA) has welcomed the decision to reopen schools.
