Students of classes X and XII came back to their school campuses after a hiatus of nine months on Monday.
Many private schools affiliated to CISCE and CBSE opened their doors on Monday while some will open on Tuesday after proper preparations. While the rest of the students will continue to attend online classes, students of classes X and XII will attend school as per a special roster that allows 50 per cent of a class to be present on a single day.
Schools conducted thermal scanning of students and arranged for sanitizers in classrooms. Schools were pre sanitized too.
Students were required to bring consent forms signed by parents and submit the same to the respective school administration.
"It was so good to be back. We met our friends and interacted face to face with our teachers. It was primarily doubted clarification for history, Hindi, English, and maths. However, I think the school will re-do the schedule and we have been asked to come on Fridays and Saturdays where all subject classes will be held with only 25 students in one classroom," said class X student of Sacred Heart Convent School, Jasmehr Marwa.
Schools like Motilal Nehru Public School, JH Tarapore School, Little Flower School, Hill Top School, Tarapore School Agrico also reopened on Monday adhering to strict guidelines. School principals said that there was a lot to be done including pre-board tests, practical classes, and even revision before the board exams begin. While CBSE will kick off from May 4, CISCE is expected to conduct it in April though an official date is yet to be announced.
Students of Sacred Heart Convent School undergo a thermal scanning before they enter their school on Monday. Bhola Prasad
"Consent forms were a necessity as per administration norms. Only 50 percent of students in a classroom are allowed on a single day for which we have also prepared a schedule. Though there were online classes, a lot is yet to be done, especially practicals," said the principal of Rajendra Vidyalaya in Sakchi, Rakhi Banerjee.
Some schools like Jamshedpur Public School and Gulmohur High School will open tomorrow as they want to be better prepared. Gulmohur High School also conducted a meeting with its teachers on Monday. Jamshedpur Public School which will reopen tomorrow will directly start with their pre-board exams. The school intends to have multiple rounds of pre-board exams as this time students will come only with parents' consent.
"Everyone may not come. Even if someone has a normal cold, they would stay away. So, we have decided to have two-three rounds of pre boards so that students can revise and appear and also revise in the process. Before the exams start, we have a lot to cover, especially practicals followed by its exam in March," said the principal of Jamshedpur Public School, Namita Agarwal.