BMC says no rise in Covid-19 cases; state could reopen schools for all ages

Students of Std VII and the younger classes could soon return to school As the festivities had a low effect on COVID19 the BMC sent a report to the state saying the situation is under control This has led to anticipations of reopening of schools for the primary section which was expected postDiwali However the MVA government will take the final call The schools had resumed inperson classes for students of Std VIIIStd XII in October this year and the decision for the rest of the students were to be take post the festivities as a third wave was fearedAfter schools in the city reopened for Std VIIIStd XIII last month the demand to also allow the rest of the students back on campus grew louder However the decisions were put on hold as there was a fear of a surge in COVID19 cases after festivitiesStudents in face masks on a school bus at Bandra in March 2020 PicPradeep DhivarConsidering that the BMC has submitted a report about how there is no increase in the number of patients even after festivities when the city witnessed massive crowds for shopping and reopening of colleges and other establishments as well talks have begun about possible reopening of schools for the primary section Parents have also demanded that schools be reopened fully nowldquoWhile in rural areas schools are open for Std V and above in Mumbai and other urban areas offline classes started for Std VIII and above Phasewise extension to lower classes was on the cards postDiwali depending on the COVID19 situation The BMCrsquos report on it tells that there is no rise in the number of COVID19 patients and that the situation is under control This suggests that reopening of schools for younger classes may soon be decided by the state government based on this reportrdquo said a source from the civic body ldquoWe have shared the information about the current situation in Mumbairdquo said Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani but he refused to comment on reopening of schools for lower classesStudents arrive at Delhi Public School Nerul on the first day of partial reopening on October 4 this year PicSayyed Sameer AbediMeanwhile there is a growing demand for reopening of schools for all classes across the state Recently parents from Mumbai sent an open letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding to reopen schools for all classes Even as the city awaits a decision from the state government schools teachers and parents all seem to be on the same page on reopening of schools as they have demanded an affirmative pronouncement soonlsquoWe waited now reopenrsquoldquoWe all waited until after Diwali as the state had said it would take a decision on resuming physical classes for the primary section postfestivities Now that the conditions are favourable we do not see any reason to delay it further The government should work on planning toward reopening and give schools and parents enough time to prepare for itrdquo said Gayatri Sabharwal a parent from South MumbaiSabharwal is part of the group of parents from the city which has written the open letter to the CMRadhika Godhane another parent from Dahisar said ldquoIt has been stated multiple times that COVID19 is a mild infection for children as they have good immunity To save children from something that is not dangerous to them we are depriving them of regular growth opportunities in formative years of their life I hope that after this report the government provides some clarity on the plan of reopening of schools for younger classesrdquoParents and schools demand clarity as in the current situation there is confusion with contradictory statements by different authorities Senior expert educationist Vasant Kalpande said ldquoParents and schools both are ready for reopening But unless there is clarity on how the reopening will proceed they cannot prepare for it It is high time that the government takes a decision on it as anyway a lot of time has passed and this is a very important decisionrdquoThe principal of a civic school requesting anonymity said ldquoMany parents are constantly asking about when the schools are going to reopen With almost everything reopening and parents going out for work they fear their children are wasting time at home Many children that we cater to are victims of digital divide and so they are facing tremendous academic lossrdquo