Reopening of schools: Attendance low in city, high in villages

GUWAHATI: Students' attendance in schools in the State's capital city continues to be low even a week after their reopening. Schools in rural areas have, however, registered high attendance.

While schools such as TC Girls' HS & MP School, Sonaram Higher Secondary School and Gopal Boro Government HS School in the city drew a blank for a day or two in the last week, attendance in other schools was in between 15 to 20.

"COVID-19 infection fear is very much prevalent among students and their parents in the city. Even though some students are willing, parents are unwilling and thus not allowing the former to go to schools. Importantly students of the city have access to online classes and other digital tools for learning. So, progress in their studies has not been hampered much due to closure of schools," a teacher at TC Girls' HS and MP School said.

A teacher at Ulubari HS School said while the lockdown hangover still remains, incessant rain for many days in the last week had prevented students from attending classes.

The Assam government last week released standard operating procedures (SOP) to reopen schools. As per the SOP each of the four grades (classes 9 to 12) are to have three classes per week. Classes for grades 9 and 12 have been scheduled on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while those for standards 10 and 11 are listed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The State Education department had also stated that the online classes will continue along with offline classes for classes 9 to 12.

Some schools had to cancel their classes as the students did not have their parents' consent letters with them.

"The students have been divided into groups for the first and the second half so that social distancing can be maintained. But we are still doubtful whether students in large numbers will come or not," another teacher said.

The attendance in schools in rural areas in the State in high and more students are coming out from their homes to attend classes. There are reports of very high attendance in schools from Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Nagaon and Morigaon districts.

On the other hand a few private schools are planning to re-start higher classes in October by adhering to all COVID safety protocols.

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