By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: With schools remaining shut across Kashmir for over two weeks, teachers have questioned the wisdom of authorities of forcing them to attend the schools with no children. They complain that forcing them to attend schools for online classes is not only risking their lives but of their families as well.
After the schools were shut, most of the private schools shifted to online mode of education. Government also asked the government school teachers to carry on with online mode of education but with the directions to give online classes from their respective schools.
Scores of teachers from various southern areas told Precious Kashmir that authorities are risking their lives by forcing them to assemble in schools with children at home.
“Most of the teachers including females have to travel in passenger vehicles to reach their respective schools. In passenger vehicles there is no regard for SOPs.These passenger vehicles are new hot spots and we are being forced to use them to reach schools only for online classes,” said a teacher, Mohd Altaf from Anantnag.
He said that teachers can give online classes to the children well from their homes and that there was no need to make them use overloaded passenger vehicles to reach schools every day.
Another teacher from Pulwama , Adil Ahmad said he wonders over the wisdom of authorities to force teachers to physically attend schools where there are no children.
“Scores of teachers tested positive for covid 19 in various schools. Teachers are contracting viruses in passenger vehicles and on reaching their respective schools they infect their other colleagues unknowingly,” Ahmad said.
Last year when schools were shut, teachers , according to Ahmad,
delivered education to students through online mode the whole year.
“This year when the second wave is turned more lethal, we are being asked to assemble in schools and give online classes from there,” he said.
Another teacher , Mohammad Jabar from Kulgam says that he along with other family members have been taking all the precautions since the pandemic broke out last year but authorities forcing him to attend school are risking the lives of all his family members.
“Let them monitor our online classes from home but they can’t risk the lives of our children. People at helm should reconsider their decision before the virus sneaks into the homes of all teachers,” Jabar said.
Director education, Tasaduq Hussain Mir, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
However, an officer of the rank of joint director, requesting anonymity said that they have shared the concerns of teachers with top authorities.
“Authorities are deliberating over it and some decision in this regard is expected in coming days,” the officer said.
