Will stop sending kids to school if COVID cases rise: Parents on reopening of K'taka schools for classes 1-5

As schools across Karnataka opened for classes 1 to 5 on a regular basis, anxious parents were seen accompanying their children and dropping them at schools. The parents who are worried about their wards missing out on academics said they are equally worried about sending their children to schools due to Covid scare.

The school management had recently held meetings with parents following the government's decision of reopening schools for lower primary students and assured about the safety standards. However, the parents say that they still fear the resurfacing of infection.

The parents as a safety measure are ensuring that their children wear masks, sanitize their hands and then leave home and have told them not to remove the mask until they return home. To boost the confidence among parents about the safety of their children in schools, various school managements has shown them the safety measures taken up in schools.

From getting all the staff vaccinated with 2 doses, to installation of hand sanitization stands and thermal scanners at schools, to making children follow social distance. The schools also will call up the parents and send the child back home if he or she shows any symptoms of flu or cold. And only after the child recovers, will be taken back to classes.

Recently, education minister BC Nagesh had assured that the transmission of the virus in schools is very remote as all the measures have been taken, and only after the expert committee gave its nod, the decision to reopen was taken. He also said that he will take up the responsibility if any cases of transmission are reported from schools.

Education experts also had favored the decision of reopening of schools as children would have lost two years of academics in a row had the decision not been taken. The experts say that children cannot learn much during online classes and physical classes are a must and should for life skills.