PANAJI
The schools in Goa will restart from Monday, February 21 and while teachers, parents and students are all excited to make an entry in the school campus, there will be some glitches that the school management will have to face. While welcoming the move, parents have offered some suggestions to the school management and students have breathed a sigh of relief after two years of online learning.
The corona cases are coming down, and due to the prolonged pandemic, the schools were closed for almost two years, and the learning process was hampered. Things are expected to change now with schools opening their classrooms for offline learning. Retired teacher from Ponda, Shubhada Marathe pointed out about the lack of space in most schools to accommodate all the students while observing physical distance. “The reopening of the schools is indeed a joyous moment; however, one has to think if all the students can sit in a class observing social distancing norms,” asked Marathe.
Social worker Uday Mahale from Kasarvarne congratulated the Education department for taking the decision to open schools. “Children were bored at home and the parents too were worried about their future. Therefore, this is positive news,” said Mahale.
A parent from Bicholim Gauri Chodankar endorsed the government’s decision of reopening schools. “It is an appropriate decision, and students will be habitual of attending classes soon, albeit while observing Covid related norms,” said the parent.
Another parent, Uday Parab from Mulgaon, also expressed his concern about children adjusting to schools, but welcomed the decision of opening schools. “Extra precaution should be taken while handling children who are in class I, as it will be their first time to attend school. They should be trained to observe social distancing and take other precautions too,” said Parab.
Ramchandra Garde, chairman, Ideal High School at Pilgaon, pointed out to the challenge of making children habitual to the school atmosphere in a very brief period, as the schools are opening after the lapse of two academic years,” said Garde.
Vikay Bhike, chairman, Parents-Teachers Association at G S Amonkar Vidyalaya suggested the need to take care of the health of small kids. “It is a need of the hour to open the schools, which is being fulfilled now. But some of the parents are still worried about sending their children to school. The Education department should also decide on the high fees charged by some of the private schools,” he deliberated.
Manohar Borkar, proprietor, Maya Book Store in Margao shares his experience, saying, “The kids who were going to Nursery, have not seen the face of school for the last two years. They should
be introduced to the concept of school. The parents take their kids to weddings and parties, but express worry only when one talks about schools, which is not fair,” said Borkar.
Dr Vyankatesh Hegde from Margao is happy that reopening of schools will help in stabilising the kids and also their parents, mentally.
A student, Anay Sunil Yerlekar, from Saraswat Vidyalaya in Mapusa expressed his joy, saying, “For the last two years, we missed our school, friends, teachers and playtime on the school ground. Though online studies continued, the charm of learning was lost. Now, we will once again meet in person, which makes me smile,” said the student.
Ramkrishna Kamat, non-teaching staff at K B Hedgewar Vidyalaya at Cujira welcomed the news, saying that the reopening of the schools will take children away from their mobiles. “The director of the Education department, Bhushan Sawaikar, took the bold decision to open schools, which is very heart warming. The children who were confined to their homes for the last two years, will finally come out and join their classes physically, in schools,” said Kamat.
Social worker from Panaji Najarana Darvesh also finds this decision as the need of the hour and a step in the appropriate direction. Anuja Mavalankar, whose son studied in Std I for the entire year, is happy that he will be attending classes in school now.
“The dangers that we faced during the first wave of corona have reduced now. The children also have good immune systems, so it does not seem so risky to reopen the schools,” feels Sangam Chodankar from Porvorim.
Siddhesh Dhavade from Porvorim says that both his kids are in class I, and have not seen their classes yet. “They will enjoy mixing with other kids in schools,” he says.
