Two-day classes panned
Students seen going to school. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
Parents have taken strong exception to private schools organising classes on campuses for only two days a week while the remaining classes are held at home.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government was criticised for refusing to reopen additional schools and classes in the second phase of reopening educational institutions per a plan outlined by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).
Taking classes at home has become normal for the past six months after schools and other educational institutions were forced to shut down as precautionary measures to keep the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic fro spreading.
However, with the pandemic cases witnessing a sharp fall, the government had last week allowed schools and colleges to let a limited number of students back into classrooms. Under the second phase of the reopening plan, the government has decided that educational activities for grades six through eight can resume in the federal capital and across Punjab from Wednesday (today).
However, to maintain social distancing parameters outlined by the government amid space constraints, educational institutions have divided each class into three groups of A, B and C.
School bells ring for first time in six months
The students in each group will attend classes in schools for only two days a week, completing the rest of their classes from the safety of their homes.
However, parents have criticised this strategy, stating that they believe children will not be able to properly concentrate on their educational activities apart from disturbing parents.
Several parents, who spoke to The The Express Tribune, said that students in group A have been asked to come to school on Monday and Tuesday only, while those in group B will go to schools on Wednesday and Thursday. Similarly, students who have been placed in the C group will take classes at school on Friday and Saturday.
Parents claimed that this plan by private educational institutions is contrary to the government’s instructions.
The parents said that the children have already suffered a huge loss by staying at home for nearly six months due to the lockdown.
They called for the government to take notice of the situation and release a uniform plan for all schools to implement.
The management of different private schools maintained that they are facing difficulties in organising classes at full strength while complying with the strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the government.
Sindh criticised
Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) have criticised the Sindh government for delaying reopening of schools in the second phase of the plan.
APPSCA President Malik Abrar Hussain said that the decision of the Sindh government seemed like a conspiracy to keep children deprived of an education.
He said that the decision betrayed an enmity with education, adding that it will cause irreparable damage to students of the province.
He added that the children have already fallen behind in their education due to the prolonged closure of schools to prevent the pandemic from spreading.
Hussain said that the provincial government’s decision was incomprehensible and demanded the government implement the decisions of the NCOC equally in all provinces.
In this regard, he hailed the federal government’s decision to reopen schools after the virus waned in the country.
Hussain said that the lockdown had inflicted serious damage on the education and hard work was required to cover up the loss. Hundreds of small private schools, he said, had shut down because due to the lockdown.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2020.