Schools in Haryana reopened after nearly three months on Friday only for class 9 to Class 12 amid strict COVID-19 protocols, with several students saying online education, though required by the pandemic, is not a substitute for classroom teaching.
The students also expressed happiness on being able to return to school after a gap of almost three months.
Educational institutions in the state were closed for physical education in April when the cases of the COVID-19 pandemic were on the rise.
While the coronavirus cases in the state showed a declining trend recently, the Haryana government last week announced the reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12, saying that students will be admitted only with written permission from parents be allowed to re-join physical classes.
However, it has not made it mandatory for students to come to school as online classes are on, officials said. An official spokesperson had earlier said that students of classes 6 to 8 will also be able to attend school from July 23 as the state government has decided to open the institute in a phased manner. Meanwhile, the students said that they are happy to be back in school.
“While in the pandemic, online education was being provided but there can be no alternative to physical classes. We are extremely happy to be back in our school where we can freely interact with our teachers, ask as many questions as possible and clear our doubts. Also, it feels happy to meet my friends after a long time”, a Class 9 student told reporters at a government school in Sonipat.
Another student in Gurgaon said, “We are glad that schools have resumed. Individual attention is given in a physical classroom environment whereas online education has its limits. Also, internet connectivity is not good on those occasions. Which causes problems while using mobile or desktop. Many people have eye strain for a long time.
Many teachers also said that they are happy to see their students back in school after a long time. “It is always easier to teach in a physical classroom. Also, there are some subjects where students are able to understand better in a regular classroom environment. We are hopeful that the COVID situation will improve as over the last one year It has been tough for the students as well as the teachers,” said a teacher from a Gurgaon school.
Detailed guidelines and SOPs have been issued by the state education department that schools need to follow. While school hours have been cut, now only one student is allowed to sit at a desk, and sharing of food or stationery items is prohibited.
As per the guidelines, a gap of at least six feet has to be maintained between two students, and there will be name tags of the students on the desk where they are to sit.
Thermal scanning and hand sanitization of students is to be done at the entrance of the school. Officials said that masks have to be checked, and if a student is found not wearing a face cover, then provision will have to be made to provide the same.
He said that to ensure social distancing, the schools would work on only 49-50% student strength in a given time and the students would be called on rotation.
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