Chennai, July 13(BPNS)
The academic community and school management of Tamil Nadu are waiting for the government clearance to open schools in the state. The call for reopening of schools has begun after neighbouring Puducherry has announced the opening of schools for students of classes 9 to 12 as well as all opening of all colleges.
Tamil Nadu school managements are of the opinion that a higher level of online classes is affecting the academics of the students and that the schools are waiting for a government nod to reopen classes.
K.R. Neelakantan, Principal, Bhavan Vidya Mandir School, Ashok Nagar, Chennai while speaking to BPNS said, “The government should at least give clearance for the opening of 12 standard classes. Once the classes are open in this category, we can try to reopen classes from 9 to 11 and then at a later stage junior classes. The Covid-19 cases are coming down and the reported fresh cases and active cases have also fallen, hence it is ripe time that schools are reopened.”
The teachers and management are of the opinion that the physical strength of the children is affected as well as their social interactions due to the online classes.
Muthu Ramalingam, Principal, AMRP higher secondary School, Madurai while speaking to BPNS said,” The children don’t have any social contacts and they are just working online with the only interface being a machine. This is affecting them socially and there are no physical activities. This will lead to a major depression cropping up in these children. I strongly advocate reopening of schools, at least for class 12 students.”
With the calls from different corners coming up regarding the opening of schools in Tamil Nadu, the state government is likely to take a decision after a high-level meeting scheduled in a couple of day’s time.
Sources in the Tamil Nadu education department while speaking to BPNS said that the department has already communicated to the ministry regarding the opening of schools but is awaiting clearance from the Chief Minister.
A senior official with the department while speaking to BPNS said, “I think in a couple of day’s time, there will be a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister and a decision will be taken. It is high time, schools are opened in Tamil Nadu and we expect the government to respond pro-actively for the same.”
