Representational Image Source: Yeddiyurappa.in
Official tells TheBengaluruLive the biggest fear is of a single child turning Covid super spreader
Agitated parents point to the irony of netas moving heaven and earth to get their children back safely from abroad a few months back
BENGALURU:
Even as the Centre’s ‘Unlock5’ guidelines have suggested reopening of schools from October 15 but left the matter to the discretion of states, the Karnataka government is still in the process of seeking advice from the health department and education experts on the pros and cons of such a move. This perceived opaqueness on the part of the government has caused much concern among parents, a majority of whom are not willing to risk the health of their children in a school-reopening scenario fraught with risk. They also point to the anomaly of the government continuing to mull schools’ reopening when it is all in favour of the WFH (work from home) trend for private employees.
Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar and Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu – both looking after Covid-related issues – have said the government is in no mood to reopen schools from October 15. At the same time, they have sent mixed signals by seeking ‘expert advice’ on the issue. Meanwhile, Education Minister S Suresh Kumar was scheduled to hold a meeting with education experts and health department officials after October 10 but is now himself in home quarantine after he came in contact with a corona case.
Undecided govt
Adding to the confusing picture, the health department is wary of a reopening of schools as it fears that even a single infected child could become a super spreader. On the other hand, education experts are pinning their trust on safety norms like sanitisers in schools and facilities for school children to wash their hands with soap frequently.
Giving an inside picture, an officer who attended a virtual meeting called by Health Minister B Sriramulu told TheBengaluruLive on condition of anonymity that the government is in no mood to reopen schools after October 15 for fear of super spreaders among the children.
“Like any other parent, the state government does not want to take a risk by reopening schools but is consulting experts. If a single child comes in contract of the virus while he is in school, he can become a super spreader to the entire school and later to his parents and other family members. Such incidents can create panic and havoc and hence the government is considering all the pros and cons before it comes to a final conclusion,” the officer said.
‘Our children first’
For their part, many parents are firmly of the view that their children’s lives are of paramount importance and point to the ‘contradiction’ of the government itself promoting WFH (work from home) for adults. They are also quick to point to the fact that Unlock5 guidelines leave it to the discretion of parents to send their children to school or not, and also allow for the option of online classes.
“Decision-makers in the government who are keen to reopen schools should put themselves in the shoes of parents and ask themselves if they would take such a decision concerning their own children,” said one parent.
Another parent pointed to the irony of politicians mulling a reopening of schools when a few months back it was the same netas who were hugely worried about the safety of their own wards studying abroad and had made strenuous efforts to get their children back on the earliest flights home.
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