What are parents saying regarding reopening of schools in Vizag?

The Andhra Pradesh Minister of Education, Adimulapu Suresh, rejected rumours of an extension of the Sankranti holidays for educational institutions in the state. On 17 January, 2022, he expressed the AP State Government’s ongoing concern towards the health of the students, with respect to COVID-19 protocols, while giving priority to their educational development. Though there has been a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state recently, schools across Andhra Pradesh have been scheduled to reopen from today. Yo! Vizag spoke to some parents, of school going children, in Visakhapatnam, regarding their view about reopening of schools in Vizag.

One of the parents, V Sudha, stated that she is not willing to send her child, studying in the 11th standard, to the school, keeping the COVID-19 situation in mind. She opines that schools must implement online classes immediately and that the State Government must not pressurize the schools to conduct offline classes.

Addtionally the parent of a primary school student in Vizag, P. Srihitha, appreciates the decision, taken by her son’s school, of  extending the Sankranti vacation and conducting online classes. She suggests that all the schools in Andhra Pradesh must follow this, regardless of the State Government’s instructions.

An 8th standard student’s parent, Dr. Nanda Kishore, suggests that kids must not be sent to school for the next one month to keep them safe from the prevailing COVID-19 situation. He opines sending them to schools would result in a quicker spread of the infection as kids are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. The parent feels that reopening of schools in Vizag, given the situation, is not recommended.

As of 16 January, 2022, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh stands at 26,770. Over the last ten days, the positivity rate took a leap from 1.64% to 13.89%, with a multifold increase in the COVID-19 cases. The daily surge in COVID-19 cases on 15 January, 2022 is reported to be 4,955, the record highest in the past 205 days. Visakhapatnam District reported 1,028 COVID-19 cases, second to Chittoor District (1,124). The AP State Government is set to impose night curfew from 18 January, 2022. Necessary COVID-19 protocols will be imposed at various public places such as temples, educational institutions, and government offices.