Srinagar: As the schools for elementary classes are set to reopen after nearly one year in Kashmir, parents who have enrolled their wards in private educational institutions are in a fix whether to allow their wards to attend classes from March 8 as the schools have set difficult norms, which not only violate the government orders but also leave the students to lurch at large.
The private school managements have yet again indulged in violating the government norms by coming up with separate guidelines for students, thus adding to miseries of parents as well as the students.
According to documents available with Precious Kashmir, some private schools have sought no objection or consent letter from parents of students before allowing students entry into the schools.
The parents said there is no such procedure by the government, but the private schools have been torturing them by asking to submit No Objection letter.
“Students shall only be permitted to attend physical lessons after a NO OBJECTION/CONSENT to attend the school is provided by the parents of the student in the format attached herewith,” reads a consent form of one of the private schools. “The consent forms must be submitted in the school till 2nd, March 2021 in person or through the mail.”
“It is also mandatory for students to carry a Fitness Certificate issued by a medical practitioner by all children attending school. This certificate should clearly state that child is not suffering from any COVID-19 related symptoms and is fit and healthy. The certificate must be handed over to the teacher on duty at the entry gate. No student shall be permitted to attend physical lessons without the written consent of the parents and the Fitness Certificate,” reads the document.
Pertinently, the government recently stated that there will be no bar on the school transport after the reopening of schools.
However, private schools have asked parents to pick and drop their children on their own.
“It is advised to parents to pick and drop their children on their own as no school transport will be available keeping in view the SPO’s for COVID-19. A limited number of students shall attend per day, they must line up before the commencement of lessons, with supervised social distancing and for compulsory thermal scanning. If there is any indication of raised temperature, the student shall be immediately segregated and the parents shall be informed to take their ward home immediately. The student shall not be permitted to return for physical classes until a negative COVID-19 report is submitted by the designated authority,” the school document reads.
Meanwhile, an official of Education Department said that they have already received such complaints from the parents.
“We are on it and will ensure that the violation is dealt with strictly,” he said.
