In spite of the fact that the second wave of the pandemic is receding gradually, the Centre and state governments have reportedly decided not to allow reopening of the schools now. The decision has been taken in view of the prediction of a third wave of the pandemic in next few months.
However, there are many students, parents and parent organisations who want schools to be reopened in places where Covid-19 situation is under control. Even as the parents’ body is of the opinion that schools should reopen, according to a survey, more than 70 per cent of the parents in the country are not ready to send their wards to schools till the crisis subsides.
An estimate indicates that nearly 30% of the students studying in government schools are ‘school dropouts’. Ashok Agarwal, president of All India Parents Association said to IANS that the best and the safest place for children is school. The closure of schools for a longer period of time has given rise to social evils and other abuses like child labour, sexual harassment, diseases, etc, which is why he said that schools should reopen .
Ashok Agarwal further questioned why schools can't be reopened when all other economic activities have resumed during the unlocking of the lockdown. While currently schools in Delhi are closed, a few states neighbouring the national capital are considering reopening schools from July.
At the moment, the Union Education Ministry has continued to urge for caution regarding the reopening of schools amid this pandemic.