Attendance in Himachal schools drops to 50%

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 14

With rising trend in Covid-19 cases casting a shadow on schools, the attendance in summer and winter closing schools in the state has dropped to about 50 per cent. The attendance was above 90 per cent in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district as compared to about 35 per cent (average of both summer and winter closing schools) in Shimla.

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Students’ attendance in summer and winter closing schools was 49.83 per cent and 50.82 per cent, respectively, on March 12 as 1,17,817 students of the total 2,36,419 attended classes in summer closing schools, while 46,951 out of the total 92,376 students of winter closing schools were physically present, said Director, Higher Education, Amarjeet Sharma.

In summer closing schools, highest attendance of 92.80 per cent was recorded in Lahaul and Spiti followed by Chamba (72.73 per cent) and Sirmaur (62 per cent) while Kullu, Shimla and Una districts recorded lowest percentage of 31, 38 and 43.19, respectively.

Among winter closing schools, Chamba topped with 78.52 per cent followed by Kinnaur (65.91 per cent) and Kangra (64.24 per cent) while Shimla (32 per cent), Mandi (32.11 per cent) and Kullu (55 per cent) were the bottom three.

The attendance pattern reflects that parents of students in urban and more developed areas are scared of spreading of Covid and wary of sending their children to schools. However, long weekend due to Shivratri could be another reason.

There are 15,591 government schools in the state, including 10,716 primary schools, 2,038 middle schools and 2,729 high and senior secondary schools, out of which about 65 per cent are summer closing while 35 per cent schools are winter closing. There are “no” winter closing schools in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Lahaul and Spiti and Una districts, while tribal Kinnaur district has no summer closing school.

On February 15 last, winter closing schools were opened with about 40 per cent attendance. However, in summer closing schools opened on February 1, the attendance had increased to about 70 to 80 per cent by then. Regular classes of Class V onwards have resumed in the state. Online classes are also continuing.

Micro plans for calling students were made by schools and besides staggering classes and changing timings to maintain social distancing, sanitising of classrooms, thermal screening of students and crowding at entry and exit points would be avoided. Schools with large number of students opted for double shifts to accommodate students.

Rising Covid cases cast shadow

• The attendance pattern reflects that parents of students in urban and more developed areas are scared of Covid infection and wary of sending their children to schools. However, long weekend due to Shivratri could be another reason.
• Micro plans for calling students were made by schools and besides staggering classes and changing timings to maintain social distancing, sanitising of classrooms, thermal screening of students and crowding at entry and exit points would be avoided. Schools with large number of students opted for double shifts to accommodate students.

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