Open house: Is shutting schools right option, If not, then how can Chandigarh schools function smoothly?

All children must be vaccinated

As the third wave of Covid with new its new Omicron variant is gripping our city fast it is prayed that children be permitted to attend their schools only after getting fully vaccinated. Human life is precious. The UT Administration should think twice before reopening schools.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Don’t confine kids to home

The vaccination drive for school going children can be effectively carried out at their respective institutions. This will enable children continue their school routine. This virus will go on mutating, but normal activities cannot be stopped. Best is to vaccinate children and not to confine them at homes.

Sapna Sharda, Chandigarh

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QUESTION

The Chandigarh Administration is soon going to unveil the draft electric vehicle (EV) policy. What are your expectations from the policy ?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

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Closing schools right step of admn

Closing schools will affect students education. It is not possible to teach all students at a single time while maintaining Covid-19 protocol. The government must provide free internet and laptop to students from poor background so that they can study well at homes. This will help students to keep themselves updated in future also.

Bhavtaran Singh, Chandigarh

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Will help in checking virus transmission

The advancement of winter vacations in schools by the UT Administration is a step in right direction. This was necessitated due to detection of a few Covid cases in one of the schools. The step taken will help in checking transmission of virus in schools. Shutting of schools though adversely affects education as there is no substitute for classroom teaching, at the same time health of students cannot be compromised at any cost. As schools are likely to reopen after vacations it is important that adequate steps be taken to contain the spread of virus and Covid appropriate behaviour is enforced amongst students and teachers.

Dr Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula

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Teacher-student interaction a must

All schools have already taken online or offline assessment tests of their respective students. Therefore, for the sake of students’ health and safety, schools should be closed keeping in view the present Covid situation in the city. Moreover, interacting with every student through online teaching ensures smooth study. This keeps teachers and students well-connected and safe also.

Dr Shakha Sharda, Chandigarh

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Make teaching more interesting

Closing schools due to Omicron threat is a good move of the UT Administration. Educational institutions need to go further online to safeguard students against the new variant. Teaching has already gone online since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Teaching has to be more interesting to avoid boredom and monotony. Students can be called once a week or month on rotational basis to keep in touch with teachers and school and clear their doubts.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Continue offline classes in schools

It is a fact that the third Covid wave with new Omicron variant is already here. The biggest concern is safety of children as a few students have contracted the virus. Despite this situation, schools can continue with offline classes while following the Covid-19 guidelines in letter and spirit. A strict vigil should be kept upon students’ health. Any student with symptoms of the disease should be sent back home. Parents too must be guided to not to send their ward to school if his/her health is not good. There is no need to panic if any student contracts virus. Students and staff, who came in contact with the infected child, must get themselves tested for the virus. That particular class where Covid case has surfaced must be closed. There is no need to close the whole school. If the number of cases show an upward trend, then immediately, the school must be closed. Avoid assembly and other functions, which lead to congregation of students. Prevention is better than cure.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

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Many roads to a single destination

Shutting schools isn’t the ultimate solution of the present Covid situation in the UT. Teachers follow of Covid norms on premises of school, but outside every rule goes for a toss. A weekly check in schools can ensure that everyone follows appropriate protocol. Students of Class IX to XII can be called to schools while following the odd-even norm on alternate days. There are many roads to a single destination. We just need to think of it.

Sushree Priyadarshni, Chandigarh

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Kids rely on free meals at schools

Advancing winter vacations in schools carries social and economic costs for people across communities. Many children rely on free or discounted meals provided at government schools. Parents are often asked to help their children study at home when schools are closed. Some parents struggle to perform this task as they might not be educated. Besides, working parents leave children alone at home when schools are closed. This is risky for children. So, Covid appropriate behaviour is to be followed at all cost to keep schools open.

Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh

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Physical surveillance needed in schools

The UT authorities need to reconsider imposition of frequent lockdowns and shutting schools due to the ongoing pandemic. Rather more physical surveillance is needed to enforce safety protocol rather than closing schools, which causes loss to students. Besides, all should follow Covid appropriate behaviour at schools to stay safe from the virus.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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Ensure compliance of authorities decision

The chill in winter mornings is harmful for children. Advancing the winter vacation by seven days in UT schools is the right decision. Some private schools thought it otherwise despite the fact that some students got infected with virus. The UT Education Department must ensure compliance of its decision by all schools.

SC LUTHRA, Chandigarh

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Start online classes after winter vacation

The new Omicron variant of coronavirus has sparked concerns over students health and education. Schools started winter break one week earlier because some students and teachers contracted virus. The UT Administration should start online classes after winter break in schools to check the spread of the virus. Parents should give their consent to their wards for attending offline classes in schools.

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

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The situation requires harsh decisions

The UT Education Department has taken right decision of advancing the winter break in schools by a week. In case of complete shutdown due to another wave of the pandemic, the authorities can smoothly shift to online classes as schools have created necessary infrastructure for the same. Teachers have gained experience of online teaching for more than one year. It is a fact that no virtual classes can replace classroom study and the school environment. The present situation requires harsh decisions and solutions without much choice.

Suresh Verma, Chandigarh

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Close schools if Omicron cases rise

A decision on reopening of schools must be taken after winter vacation. The Health Department should monitor the pandemic situation strictly in the city. As kids will be at a higher risk, the department need not take any chance because Omicron cases have already been detected in the city. If Omicron cases continue to rise in Chandigarh only then the Education Department must close schools again.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Schools must be last place to close

It’s surprising that the UT authorities decided to close schools ahead of scheduled winter break in view of the ongoing pandemic. Once again closure of schools for long period would be disastrous for children. The prolonged school closure, limited resources for students, teachers and parents and not much access to remote learning have wiped out decades of progress in education and rendered childhood unrecognisable. Schools must be the last place to close. The authorities must do everything to keep schools open. The government must invest more in digital connectivity to make sure that no child is left behind when it comes to online education.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Prevention is better than cure

The UT Administration decided to close school by advancing winter vacation by seven days. This is a step in right direction because Omicron variant is six times more transmissible than the Delta strain. Even fully vaccinated people has contracted Omicron. The UT Education Department and all concerned must follow the principle “Prevention is better than cure”. Online study can be a better way of imparting education during the pandemic.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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Sanitise schools at regular intervals

Sending children to school is risky during the ongoing pandemic. Experts have warned that Omicron variant is more infectious. The UT Education Department should take the threat seriously. To run schools smoothly ensure all teachers, staff and eligible students are vaccinated. Managements must get schools sanitised at regular intervals. Online classes option can be considered by the authorities concerned. Closing schools should be the last option.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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More students could have been infected

It is rightly said “A stich in time saves nine”. The Chandigarh Administration has taken right step by advancing winter vacations in schools lest more students could have got infected with the virus. Parents should make sure that their kids wearing face masks and follow Covid protocol.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

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Closing schools not a fair decision

It is true that Omicron is more dangerous than Delta variant. But the decision of the UT authorities to close schools is not fair. Students have already borne too much loss due to the pandemic. The UT Administration should not give permission for fairs and social gathering. Schools should be kept open in the city.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Children are vulnerable

The UT Administration has taken a timely decision to close schools in the city. It will benefit schoolchildren in two ways. One from the Covid-19 threat and the other from the prevailing intense cold wave. Children are vulnerable and not vaccinated as yet. They need special care and protection at this juncture. Schools should be closed for longer period depending upon the rise in Omicron cases.

RPS Chopra, Chandigarh

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Risking life makes no sense

Omicron is slowly taking its toll across the city. Schools have been closed for winter break. As per various studies, the Omicron threat is to start by the end of December and its peak is predicted in February 2022. As a precautionary step schools can be closed for some more days. Let students study through virtual mode. Once the health authorities are able to contain and control the pandemic, schools can be re-open for students. Risking students’ life to the disease makes no sense.

Dr Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

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Too much online learning not good

The decision taken by the UT Administration to advance the winter vacation of schools is a foresighted one. Prevention is always better than cure. Children are the most affected mentally and psychologically due to closure of schools. Their physical activities are hampered and soft skills such as reading, writing and communicating with teachers and friends is also impacted. The UT Education Department should come out with a blended mode (Online and offline) of imparting education to schoolchildren. Too much online learning is not advisable as it is not that effective.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Don’t fear, Omicron not deadly as Delta

The Omicron danger looms large in the UT, but no one should fear as it is not as deadly as Delta variant. School should adhere to Covid protocols and the authorities must enforce them strictly. The Education Department should not close schools as teachers and students will suffer. Although online mode is available, many students don’t have the means to afford it. Students are more comfortable with offline classes. They want direct contact with teachers for the removal of doubts. Schools must not be closed.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma,Chandigarh

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A wise decision indeed

With the Omicron threat looming large over the country in general and Chandigarh in particular, the decision of the UT Education Department to close city schools and advancing winter vacations is a wise and well-thought step. Keeping in view the danger to lives of people, especially the younger lot, the dispensation cannot be complacent and lower the guard against the killer Corona variant. The surge in new variant cases in the city and elsewhere in the country left the authorities concerned with no obvious choice except to close schools. Exploring any other possibility to take Omicron could have disastrous ramifications.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Adopt odd-even system in classrooms

Pandemic is again surging in the UT. Omicron cases are being reported from the city. So, it’s a time to rethink for educational institutions, especially schools. Either give one month vacation or start calling students on alternative days while following odd-even system in schools. Proper sanitisation of staff and students should be there before they enter and exit schools. Both online/offline education mode should be run simultaneously for students. Unnecessary activities should be suspended with immediate effect in schools.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Vocational classes can be suspended

Covid cases again increasing in the UT. The authorities should reduce and divide classes in two or more parts. They should call students to schools as per their assigned timings. Vocational classes can be stopped in schools. Online education is also a good option. Sanitisers and face masks should be given staff and students in schools.

Aarti Verma, Panchkula