Parents in Hyderabad concerned as schools insist on physical classes

HYDERABAD: Amid an increase in dengue and mystery fever cases in the state, school managements’ decision to make physical classes mandatory, has left parents worried. Many who TOI spoke to said that the schools their children go to have either decided or are mulling discontinuing online classes soon.
“As parents we know that class 9 and 10 are important, but nothing is more important than a child’s health.The school management should not have stopped online classes,” said the parent of a class 9 student enrolled in a private school in Tarnaka. The parent added: “We don’t mind paying the full fee even for online classes, but schools should not insist on physical attendance as the pandemic is not over yet.”
Many parents said they have been receiving messages from schools stating plans to start classroom sessions and offline exams. Parents urged the state to ensure schools continue with the arrangement followed during the last academic year and make it mandatory for them to provide online or digital classes instead of insisting on physical attendance.
School managements confirmed that except for classes 9 and 10, not many from primary and upper primary sections have been attending physical classes. “Up to class 5, attendance is hardly 15% in budget schools. In class 9 and class 10, it should be around 70%,” said Shekhar Rao Y, president, Telangana Recognised School Managements Association adding that many parents are still hesitant to send their children to school.
When contacted, an official from the school education department, maintained that cases of Covid-19 in the state are low and urged students to return to their schools. “The overall development of children is not happening through online classes. While there is a possibility, we must use it and encourage children to attend physical classes,” the official said.