Announcing the tentative timeline with caution, Banerjee said, “If the situation permits, we are thinking about resuming classes from September. We have a date in mind: 5th September. It is the birth anniversary of (Sarvepalli) Radhakrishnan and we might resume classes on that date. Then we can continue till the Pujas on alternate days but everything depends on the situation.” The ministry of human resource development had on July 17 asked state governments to provide them with a feedback from school students’ parents about when would they be comfortable with schools reopening: August, September or October.
Banerjee reiterated no exams could be held in colleges now and that the earlier UGC advisory to appraise students on their earlier semesters should be followed. “We need to think about students,” she said.
Responding to the possibility of schools reopening in September, Ram Mohan Mission School principal Sujoy Biswas said the seating arrangements would have to be re-organised to ensure social distancing. “An orientation programme will have to be held, where students will be asked to carry sanitizers and two sets of napkins and face masks that can be changed. There will be disposable cups at water dispensers. Students will not be allowed to share tiffin or stationery. Someone will regulate students’ entry to toilets,” he said.
Some parents felt it was too early to consider reopening schools and such a call could be taken only after cases in the state plateaued and the infection curve began to dip. Others, however, recognised the disadvantage many students faced now, particularly those who could not access online classes.
Class-XI admissions for state board schools will be on as per the earlier schedule. “Schools should start admission of their own students from August 1 and end it by August 10. Admissions from other schools should start from August 11 and end by August 31. Only guardians can attend the process with documents,” said a Madhyamik Parshad official.
Colleges and universities, too, may reopen on September 5 if schools do. But Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association general secretary Partha Pratim Ray said it was too early to set a date. He said the state needed to normalize public transport system, including trains. “Hostels have to open. Once these aspects are resolved, date to begin classroom interactions can be announced,” he said.
Gautam Maity, general secretary of All Bengal University Teachers Association, said the higher education department should withdraw August 10 as the UG admission deadline. “Not all can access internet. Many won’t be able to apply online,” he said. But state university VC indicated they would go ahead with the directive. “The admissions system is online. There is no trouble in publishing merit list and admission,” he said.
