The government's decision to defer reopening of schools until October 2 will bring in a momentary sigh of relief to students and parents. In the current Covid situation where there is a daily spurt in Covid-positive cases, it is undoubtedly a prudent move to wait in the hope for better times ahead rather than risking the health of students. However, it baffles the mind why the government was so quick to announce reopening of the 13 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the State from Monday.Ironically, the government announced that ITIs would open on September 21, much before a decision was made on schools. This is surprising because it comes against the backdrop of a statement by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane that the daily count of positive cases could touch a staggering 1000 in days to come due to community spread. Vishwajit, who also holds charge of skill development and entrepreneurship, was incidentally the first to react after the Centre announced SOPs for schools that the State government should not reopen schools on September 21.
The CM claims that around 80 per cent stakeholders supported a partial reopening of schools for higher classes from September 21, but what is not factored in is the fact that several teachers and staff are already virus-infected and undergoing treatment, and some even hospitalized. In the campus, adhering to the protocol is going to be challenging because there are shared spaces, including washrooms.
When ITIs resume classes from Monday, the students, instructors and principals will face a scary and unprecedented situation. The SOPs may be in place, but to maintain hygiene on the prescribed lines is going to be challenging. Moreover, students at ITIs use common tools for practical learning. It is beyond imagination to rationalize why the government is applying a different yardstick to ITI students and those schooling in higher classes.
That's not all. If we may recall, ITI students had to bear the brunt of a small hike in fees while they were seeking admission under the centralized online system this year. Under this system, each student had to shell out an additional Rs 830 towards 'processing fees'. This is against the background of CM directing private schools to refrain from fee hikes and warning aided schools of action if found charging fees for online classes. Why this hypocrisy? The government has made parents pay for going the online way, the only possible mode for admission available to them. ITI students were forced to shell out extra money. In these pandemic times, every rupee counts and ordinary citizens will feel the pinch.
