Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 21: After remaining closed for near about two years, schools in Summer Zone of Jammu division re-opened today for the students of primary and middle standard even as the attendance was thin on the very first day.
Dressed in school uniforms and carrying bags, students from Class I to 8 were seen marching to their respective schools and attending offline classes with great enthusiasm.
After a long gap of around two years, hustle bustle was witnessed once again in all the Government as well as private schools which had remained closed since March 2020 following spread of COVID pandemic across the country.
As the maximum schools preferred not to ply their own transport because of COVID SOPs, parents were seen dropping their wards to the schools where sufficient arrangements like sanitization and proper distancing were made as per the Government order.
“We are happy that the schools have been re-opened as studying online was not manageable because of its limitations,” said Vishal Singh, a student of Class 8, while moving to his school.
Almost similar were the feelings of other students, who were apparently enthusiastic on re-opening of the schools and meeting their class mates as well as the teachers.
“With the arrival of students, we are feeling charged. It is a happy moment for all of us even as the attendance is thin on the very first day, ”said teacher of a school.
Another school’s Principal claimed that all necessary arrangements, including sanitization of classes, thermal screening of students at the entrance gate and adequate availability of hand sanitizers, have been made in accordance with COVID Appropriate Behaviour and Standard Operating Procedures.
Pertinent to mention that in an order issued on February 13, the State Executive Committee had said that all universities, colleges, polytechnic institutes, ITIs and classes from 9 to 12 could commence their routine offline teaching from February 14 while the offline mode of teaching for the remaining junior classes in Sumer zone schools shall begin from February 21.
Offline teaching at all schools in the winter zone shall commence after February 28 when the ongoing winter vacations will be over.
According to Director School Education Jammu, Dr Ravi Shanker Sharma, junior classes in all the Government schools also resumed offline classes from today and the attendance is expected to pick up in the coming days as door to door campaign has been launched to encourage the parents for sending their wards to the school.
Expressing satisfaction over response of parents in sending their children to the schools, Ajay Gupta, Principal of NITL and General Secretary of Private Schools Association, said that students as well as the parents were excited over re-opening of the schools.
“We are hopeful the attendance will be near 100 percent within two-three days and the schools are trying their best to compensate the loss of studies because of Covid pandemic,” he added.
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