Patna: Education department authorities in Bihar have raised an alarm over the poor attendance of students in schools.
The education department allowed conduct of classes for Grade 9 and Grade 10 students with COVID-19 guidelines and 50 per cent attendance while classes for Grade One onwards will start from August 16.
However, just five to 10 per cent of students are attending classes. Authorities say students are reluctant to attend classes due to fears of a likely third wave in the region soon.
Bihar education secretary Sanjay Kumar has asked officials to ensure proper attendance of both students and teachers in schools so that catch-up courses could be completed,
He said the secondary and higher secondary schools would have their board examinations early next year and promotion examinations in November-December, which leaves children with very little time to prepare. “Poor attendance in school means that the district education officers and their junior officials are not monitoring properly,” the education secretary told the department’s officials.
The education secretary is also upset over the continued closure of schools in some areas despite being ordered to be opened. “Some district magistrates have informed that the number of schools opening is negligible in some districts and it is a matter of concern,” the official said.
Reports said the parents are not eager to send their wards to schools until 75 per cent of the country’s population gets vaccinated. Their main fear is that although the vaccines are available for people above 18 years, those below 18 will always be exposed to coronavirus infections.
“The government should not open the lower classes since the children have neither been vaccinated nor are they fully aware about the COVID-19 guidelines. Who will take care of our children if they get infected?” asked Chanchla Kumari, mother of a student. Another guardian Rajat Kumar said the various reports have suggested the arrival of the third wave by the last week of the month. “In such a situation reopening schools is not a judicious move. The government should have waited for some time,” said Kumar.
Repeated closure of schools due to COVID-19 infections has done a lot of harm to education. Although most schools have shifted to online learning, a significant percentage of students don’t have smart phones to join the classes.
Bihar education minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary too admitted in the state Assembly that children’s education has suffered owing to COVID-19 pandemic and hence “bridge course has been planned to make up the loss as many students could not have access to online education”.
