Asia

Karnataka: Pre-schools to reopen on November 8, management urges government to encourage parents to send wards

November 4, 2021
Henry Club

The Karnataka government on Thursday announced classes for students in pre-schools, including Lower Kindergarten (LKG) and Upper Kindergarten (UKG), in taluks across the state. COVID-19 Test positivity rates below 2 per cent will resume on November 8.

As per the official notification issued by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), it is mandatory for every student to submit a consent letter from their parents to attend classes which have been closed for more than 19 months, as the pandemic hit the state. has affected. in March 2020.

Incidentally, coincides with the guidelines issued by the government which was released a few days ago To facilitate the reopening of Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) across the state by the Department of Women and Child Development.

Initially, pre-schools have been asked to operate on a half-day basis, while it is mandatory for all teaching and non-teaching staff to receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Apart from this, teachers above the age of 50 years should compulsorily wear face shield, said the guidelines issued by DPI Commissioner R Vishal.

In addition, parents have been recommended to send home-cooked meals, while schools have been directed to provide hot drinking water to students. whereas social distancing Suggested, parents are urged to send their children a clean handkerchief with them after training them in the basic etiquette of coughing.

In the event of any person being the primary contact at home, parents have been instructed not to send their children to school and report the same to the concerned authorities. In addition, it has been made mandatory for schools to subject all students to COVID testing in case of infection of any student.

In the event a “significant number” of students are infected, a school will remain closed until further notice and approval by local health officials. Pre-schools have also been asked to ensure that no guest (other than parents) should be allowed inside the campus at all times.

However, state secretary of the Voice of Parents Association, PE Chidanand, told Indian Express That parents have not yet been able to believe in sending their children to primary schools. “As per our knowledge, at least half of our members have not yet started sending their children to primary schools as the risk of infection persists, neither children are being vaccinated nor cases are being reported across the state. Almost no one has the numbers. It will be even more difficult for young children in pre-schools as preventing them from touching their friends and common touchpoints on campuses is still a challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, D Sasikumar, general secretary of the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools (KAMS) in Karnataka, said that the school authorities are of the opinion that the government should take all possible steps to encourage parents to send their children to all grades. Should be raised School. “The government must nurture trust among parents as it is important that all aspects of the learning loss accumulated during the pandemic need to be addressed at the earliest. Pre-school children especially need to watch, play and learn as it is important to contribute to the literacy of the state as well,” he said.

Last week, Dr MK Sudarshan, chairman of the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), noted that there was “nothing to panic” and Parents sending kids to school “shouldn’t be scared”.

“We (TAC) are continuously monitoring the pandemic situation in the state. The average test positivity rate (TPR) across all age groups in the state currently stands at around 0.3 per cent. Especially for school children, it is 0.13 per cent,” he had said.

Earlier in September, an The expert committee constituted by the government had suggested That the state government can reopen the school for all classes in the state.

.