NOIDA: Students testing positive for Covid-19 need to be quarantined quickly and rapid tests should be used for fast detection, but closing campuses is not the solution, school managements and principals said on Thursday amidst demands to shift back to online classes.
Around 35 students across schools in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have been diagnosed with Covid-19, days into the new academic session that saw most private schools reopen for offline classes.
The developments have prompted worried parents to seek resumption of online classes once again. But schools say closing down physical classes cannot be the way forward. Instead, precautionary and surveillance measures must be followed strictly, they say.
The director of St Francis School in Greater Noida, whose Ghaziabad branch suspended physical classes this week after 3 students tested positive, said the campus has a total of 3,600 students enrolled. The Greater Noida branch as 700 students.
“Shutting down the school is not an option as physical classes are necessary to cover lost time. I have sent out a circular to parents in the Greater Noida branch of the school that they should not send the children who have any symptoms of Covid to school. If anyone is found with symptoms, he/she will be sent home. If anyone tests positive, they have to undergo 14 days of home isolation. The school will not shut down because of that,” said Julius George.
He said that this “offline, online see-saw cannot continue” and people have to accept the fact that “we cannot run away from Covid”. The director also warned against creating panic, and asked that if other places such as malls and markets are open, “then why is everyone worried about sending students to schools”.
Jyoti Arora, principal of the Delhi World Public School in Noida Extension, advocated for George’s approach. “We need to come to terms… Covid-19 is here to stay and we need to equip ourselves to deal with it. Any fear and panic can prove detrimental to all students, educators and parents as well,” she said. Around 2,200 students are enrolled in the school.
Others pointed out that schools need to conduct physical classes to regain some semblance of academic stability after two years of pandemic disruptions. Students are dealing with learning challenges and gaps that have to be overcome, they said.
“Over 70% rural population does not have an internet connection. Studies have shown that students have lost foundational abilities in mathematics and linguistics. Remote learning has also hindered socio-emotional development. Clearly, we have every reason to continue physical schools while observing all precautions,” said Manju Rana, director of the Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Schools. A Class 10 student in the school’s Vasundhara branch in Ghaziabad was found to be infected with the virus earlier this week.
When asked about this, Rana said all 16 branches of the school are following all Covid-norms. “The schools are ensuring a limited number of visitors to the campus. Transport facilities are being operated at 50% capacity. Most importantly, we are giving regular reminders to students about following Covid protocols through interesting animation films, etc,” he said.
The management of Amity International School in Noida too said offline classes bridge learning gaps. “Students are writing in their notebooks, and teachers are correcting and discussing ways to improve the learning process,” said Renu Singh, director and principal of the school that has a strength of 7,000 students.
The institute, however, has said previously that it will continue to opt for hybrid teaching, especially when it comes to organising workshops and seminars. Similarly, Neeraj Awasthy of Modern School in Noida’s Sector 12 said their staff is also focusing on improving mental and physical health of students. “Due to online classes, students were not able to meet each other, which affected their social well-being. Their physical strength and activity levels also went down in this period,” the principal said.
