The government’s efforts to ensure children’s academic year does not go in vain is laudable. But when such efforts threaten the lives of children, isn’t it time to rethink?
Not only children but also their parents, apart from the teachers who attend schools as part of their duties are prone to threat… should the decision be withdrawn or not? This is the thought process going on across Andhra Pradesh.
The corona cases in schools are creating fear. Schools were reopened on November 2. Corona tests were carried on students and teachers. The outcome of the tests is leaving everyone terrified. In Chittoor district alone, 120 teachers, three students tested positive for Corona and this was disclosed by the district collector to the media. In a West Godavari school, eight students and three parents tested positive. In Nellore eight teachers tested positive.
The cases mentioned in this list are just a few. That too they have come out in a couple of days. Don’t know how big the danger is going to be. If the data of entire states is taken don’t know how many would have been infected with Corona. It is not known how many of them would lose their life.
Is it necessary?
Is it so necessary to open schools and risk the lives of children, parents and teachers? This is the doubt many are raising. Many states in the country are not showing the courage to open the schools. The neighbouring Telangana also did not open schools. The Odisha CM has said that they will not open schools in the state. It is only the AP government which has dared to do so.
It appears that the AP government is adopting double standards on corona. When the Election Commissioner tries to conduct local body elections, the state government is reluctant to provide security citing the pandemic. While it takes a bold decision to announce a schedule for starting schools from November 2 and also for other students from next month. Is this necessary?
Government’s intentions cannot be doubted!
Government integrity cannot be doubted as it is worried about the academic year of the students. It should also be appreciated. Do government officials feel that there is no other way but to open campuses. Even if the schools start now then only four months are left for exams to be completed, and to cover ten months of study in four months is also a farce. Governments have nothing to gain except to have exams for namesake and promote children to the upper classes.
Don’t know whether the government is worried that the uniforms they distributed as part of a welfare scheme would become wasteful expenditure, and hence decided to open schools.
Going back doesn’t mean failure
Jaganmohan Reddy wants to prove that he does not go back on his promise. Hence, he has fulfilled all the election promises. In spite of the economic burden on the government, he does not want to go back. Though it is good there should be some respite at a time when the lives of children, teachers and parents are at stake.
There is a need to rethink on reopening the schools. Alternatives like online studies, risk freeways are there to ensure the safety of children. They should think of this.
Won’t you stop unless courts ask?
Chief minister Jaganmohan Reddy has implemented every decision he has taken and has not gone back on his promise. He has stepped back on some issues after courts gave decisions against the government. At a time when there is a risk of schools taking away lives if someone goes to court and if a stay order is imposed, the govt would have to step back. The welfare schemes of Jaganmohan Reddy have made him a maternal uncle of every child in the states. It is not good to play with their lives.
