Parents in Gujarat ask govt not to reopen schools

Parents and guardians are outraged over the Gujarat government’s decision to start schools in the state from 23 November. The All Gujarat Board of Parents had demanded the withdrawal of the decision to start schools and backed the announcement of school closure on 23 November, especially amid rising Covid-19 cases in the state.

Naresh Shah, president of the All Gujarat Parents’ Association, said that at a time when coronavirus is becoming as destructive as an atom bomb, schools should be started after two months for the sake of humanity and the safety of children’s lives.

He added that the association supports the Vadodara Parents Association’s 23 November school closure announcement. It is not advisable to open schools until the corona vaccine has arrived.

Shah said, “If the government is determined to start schools from November 23, then some issues have been brought before the government for the safety of the students in which after the commencement of schools, a testing center of Covid-19 will have to be set up outside each school as well as a special Covid-19 ward will be set up for students in every district and city area of the state. The report of RT PCR should be submitted to the DEO by every teaching and non-teaching staff of the school. If any student gets infected with corona, the school will have to pay the hospital bill for his/her treatment.”

Earlier, on the issue of reopening of schools, Shah said that the government should keep education experts and guardians together when formulating a policy or SOP to start schools. Administrators will not have any responsibility if the guardian guarantees. In this situation, the responsibility of only one should not be determined.

He has written a letter to the government to involve the parents on the issue of reopening of schools.