Aurangabad, Nov 23:
The secondary schools which were shut down around nine months ago in rural areas were abuzz with students again on Monday.
It may be noted that the spread of Novel coronavirus started in the State in the second week of March. With the rise in the number of patients, the State Government commenced the implementation of curfew and lockdown from March-end. All the education institutes, including schools, were shut down since then.
Online teaching was being imparted in private schools from mid-June while in aided and Government schools, it was from July.The Government before Diwali announced that the schools which have 9th to 12th standards would be reopened from November 23.
The COVID 19 test of teaching and non-teaching school staff was carried out during the last one week. But, there is a slight increase in positive patients in the State.So, there was confusion about whether schools would be reopened or not. The Government gave powers local administration to take a decision on the reopening of the secondary schools.The local administration permitted for reopening the schools in rural areas from Monday by following all measures of COVID 19. The schools in city areas will remain closed up to January 3.The schools are abuzz with teachers and students who had a different experience on the first day of the reopening the schools. Staff was mostly present on duty while the percentage of students attendance was not much. The temperature and oxygen of students were examined in the schools. Students were allowed to sit in the classroom by maintaining physical distancing.
Sarika Jain, a teacher from Ladsaungi Zilla Parishad Secondary School feels that there was actual teaching in the classroom today after nine months.“Not all students from rural areas have online learning facility at home. Students were joyous to learn in the classroom,” she said.
Sominath Palaskar, a student from Dhareshwar Vidyalaya (Palshi) expressed happiness to attend the classes from today.“There was difficulty in attending online classes. My parents asked me to follow all COVID measures and then attend the school. My schools have given us santisier. With their permission, I will go to the school daily,” he added.
Gajanan Jadhav, a ZP secondary school student, said he was delighted to be in the school after a long time.He said he had to work on a farm since when the school was shut down.
“Now, I need to go to the field to work. Actual learning is helpful and easy to understanding. Also, I can ask any questions in the classroom learning anytime than online education,” he asserted.Rajendra Joshi from ZP Higher Secondary School-Satara said that all the staff had joined the duty as per the orders of the administration.
“Our staff members will continue online education from the school after its reopening. Since our school fall within the jurisdiction of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, there are restrictions on conducting actual classes up to January 3,” he said.