The Post-covid scenario has brought about drastic changes in the education sector of Assam. Most students, and their parents, are choosing online classes over physical classes due to fear of contracting the dreaded virus.
The Assam Education department has ordered reopening of physical classes for students from classes 1 to 8 and class 11 from October 19. The same was announced in an order containing SOPs for the same on September 28.
As the pandemic’s ultimate duration is still unclear, some parents are no longer comfortable sending their children for offline classes as they fear for their safety.
On the other hand, some parents are getting used to the idea of eventually sending off their children for physical classes if schools follow all the COVID-19 protocol, as advised by the government.
Also read: Meghalaya: Schools reopen, students return with face masks
“My son passed his class 10 this year and now it’s the crucial point of his life. He needs to focus more on studies but because of the last two years in lockdown, he got too addicted to the mobile phone. He plays on his phone all the time. Now that the Government has taken the decision to reopen schools, I am somewhere relieved, but I also want the school to follow necessary protocol, so that my child stays safe and continues with his studies,” Hamida Khanam, parent a student of Army Public School, Guwahati, told EastMojo.
Jyoti Singh, who has a daughter in Class 2, said, “After the government took the decision of reopening schools, I was perplexed. Although I think it is really important for students to go back and attend offline classes because the online method of study doesn’t really work, at the same time, I am worried because of the COVID situation.”
“She is a child and is not vaccinated. So, I think the government should implement strict protocols for school for the safety of children,” the mother added, worried about her 8 year-old, who studies in Guwahati’s Maharishi Vidya Mandir.
Stressed by the amount of time children now spend on gadgets, resulting in a loss of interest in academia, Rudra Kanta Borah, father of a student from DPS Duliajan, said, “I’m relieved that my son’s school is reopening because I was totally frustrated; he lost all interest in studies. Because of online classes, I have to give him the phone but he plays games on it instead all the time and he is on social media.”
“However, I also want the government and school to take all the safety measures,” Borah reiterated.
An elder sister of a student of Pragjyotish Senior Secondary School, Guwahati, said she wasn’t in favour of reopening of schools at a time when she sees everything opening up and people roaming the streets without masks.
“Do we see all people wearing masks? No, right? So why will we send our children outside?” Karishma questioned.
Also read: Arunachal schools reopen for classes 1-8 with strict COVID SOPs
“The last time same things happened. The government re-opened everything and it lead to the second wave, which affected a lot more people. I don’t think schools will take necessary measures all the way. Initially they will, but eventually everything will be like the last time,” the concerned elder sibling opined.
EastMojo also spoke to a student who was excited to go back to school after such a long break from physical classes. “I am very happy that schools are reopening because this year I will appear for my boards. But I am a little worried because in the last two years we studied in online mode. Now it will be very hectic; all of a sudden to cope with offline mode classes,” said a student of Little Flower School, Guwahati.
Assam had closed all schools and colleges in April when the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit. The active caseload in Assam is 0.72%, according to data available from the Assam government’s COVID dashboard.
Also read: Assam: Phased reopening from Oct 1; Schools for classes 1-8 start Oct 19