Bhubaneswar: With a developing Omicron situation, offline classes and reopening schools for junior classes to class V have become uncertain in the state.
Although the Minister of School Education and Mass Samir Ranjan Das previously hoped that elementary schools could be reopened at the end of the year, fear of a surge in Covid cases after the emergence of the Omicron virus imposed repeated thoughts.
“There is no decision that has been taken over to continue offline classes for elementary school students.
Amid the latest threats from the Omicron variant, the state government will not be in a hurry to reopen the primary classes as children’s safety is the top priority for us, “Said Samir’s school and education minister Ranjan Das.
The state has enabled the physical class to class VIII class VIII following Covid guidelines such as mandatory masks, physical distance, hand washing and using sanitaryers.
Some parents expressed concern that a prolonged school closure would have a bad effect on writing and the ability to read children.
“Online class is not satisfying for small children as teachers and students cannot focus well.
I am worried if the school remains closed for days later, the foundation of learning among children will be weak,” said Sasmita Mohanta, Mother of class IV students.
Likewise, Moumita Mohanty, the mother of two elementary school students said her children were no more interested in going to school.
“My children want to stay at home so they get more time to watch TV and play.
During the pre-covid period, they used to attend classes for five hours a day but now they learn online for only two hours,” he added.
Other groups of parents were afraid to send their children to school in the middle of a pandemic.
“When so many months passed, it would not be wise to open school during the current academic session when Omicron had become a major threat in other countries.
We must be very careful and should not put the lives of children at risk,” said Bhabani Samal, parent.
He showed the school witnessed a thin presence in a higher class because parents did not feel safe to expose their children.
“We can send our children to school so they are vaccinated,” he said.