BMC okays school, jr college reopening from next week

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Wednesday approved the reopening of schools in Mumbai for Std VIII to Std XII from October 4 Even as the decision was welcomed by all most schools and junior colleges in the city said Monday is too soon to reopen While schools have begun talking to parents junior colleges want to wait and watch and parents have mixed reactionsThe BMCrsquos education department issued a circular asking all schools to follow the guidelines provided in the Government Resolution GR issued last week Even with the BMC nod in schools and junior colleges are likely to take some time to reopenSchools need timeldquoWe are eager to meet students and they want to get back to school life too But there is no point in being hasty Certain requirements such as having a health clinic inside the school are going to take timerdquo said Kalyani Arumugam principal SIES school The school like many others in the city conducted a poll to know if parents are willing to send their wards to school ldquoA total of 47 per cent of parents responded affirmatively but they have some doubts starting from transportation to social distancingrdquo she addedSuggesting a plan of action Francis Joseph president SLN Global Network said ldquoParentsrsquo anxiety cannot be denied Schools should go ahead slowly with their plan mdash this will include talks with parents not forcing any decision on them and being ready with a hybrid mode of learningrdquo Joseph also insisted that individual schools take time and take parentsrsquo consentBudget schools on the other hand are worried about providing the numerous facilities such as sanitisers thermal guns etc They also have many of their students migrating to other places ldquoThe government should support schools Only 70 per cent of city teachers are vaccinated The rest will need time to complete vaccinationrdquo said Jaywant Kulkarni a teacher from Gandhi Bal Mandir in Kurla Pandurang Kengar spokesperson for School Principalsrsquo Association in Mumbai said ldquoWe welcome the decision but this will require time We practically have just two days in handrdquoWait and watchJunior colleges have decided to wait and watch as travel for students will be a major issue as it is common for city colleges to have students from farflung suburbs Junior college students who are ineligible for the vaccines wonrsquot be able to travel in trainsPrincipal of H R College Dr Pooja Ramchandani said ldquoIn a few days we will go for Diwali vacation What is the point of starting for a few days in haste We shall wait for clarity from parents and students as most want online studies to continue Travel is a major concern for students staying far away many are from outside Mumbai and therersquos no clarity on hostelsrdquo Dr Anna Nikalje principal Wilson College said ldquoWe have to be very careful Even if we decide to begin we will have to offer a hybrid mode for both online and offline students This shall take timerdquoParents dividedWhile according to many parents this is the wrong decision and they are not going to send their children to schools for many others it is a welcome move ldquoOur school will hold a meeting for parents to understand how many are willing to send their kids and accordingly a plan will be preparedrdquo shared Prasad Tulaskar a parent from Dadar Pushpa Salvi from Andheri whose daughter is in Std X said ldquoMany parents are willing to send their kids especially those in board exam years But we understand the importance of planning Where we have waited so long another week or so shouldnrsquot be a problemrdquoHowever the risk of the infection rising is still a concern for many others ldquoThis could become a superspreader With colleges remaining closed what is the hurry for schools to reopenrdquo said Anubha Shrivastava from India Wide Parents Association