Kolkata schools under CNI decide to reopen for offline classes

The Church of North India (CNI), which runs several schools in the city, has asked school authorities to curtail summer vacation and begin physical classes from June 20, Monday as there has been an improvement in weather conditions. The summer vacations were extended till June 26 by the West Bengal Education Department, according to a directive released on June 14.

In a notice to private schools under the CNI, Bishop of Kolkata Reverend Paritosh Canning directed the heads to reopen campuses from June 20 and begin in-person classes for students of all classes.

“In view of the improvement in weather conditions, our bishop, Reverend Paritosh Canning, Bishop of Calcutta, CNI is directing the Heads of Institutions of The Diocese of Calcutta, CNI ( ICSE/ISC/DA getting and Private Schools) to reopen their respective institutions from Monday, 20th June, 2022 and begin offline/in-person classes for the students of all the classes," the notice stated.

A number of schools, including both La Martiniere for Girls and Boys, St James', Pratt Memorial, St Paul’s Mission, both St Thomas Boys' and Girl's, Scottish Church Collegiate School, Christ Church Girls’ High School and others are run by the CNI in the city.

School authorities, students and parents are supporting the decision to reopen schools since there has been a loss of learning due to the pandemic in the last two years.

Rupkatha Sarkar, principal, La Martiniere for Girls said, "Reopening of schools have made all stakeholders glad, especially the students who missed out on the real-life experience of interacting with teachers and friends in the last two years of the pandemic."

The schools are also planning to begin extra-curricular activities, once they reopen. Some schools will also conduct tests.

"The reopening was important for children at this point of time. Time and again there has been a hindrance in their pace of learning. Now, it’s time to get back to normalcy. We are reopening for all classes right from nursery to Class XII. We will also have a few extra-curricular activities," said Terence Ireland, principal, St. James’ School.

According to Supriya Dhar, secretary of La Martiniere schools, who spoke to a news agency, the campuses for both the boys’ and girls’ sections will reopen from June 20 as the extreme hot and humid conditions are not the same any more. "After the state government issued notice for extending summer vacation from June 15 to June 26 due to the severe hot and humid conditions, we decided to go for online classes for 10 days. Taking into account the health issues of children, we took the decision though the CISCE did not issue any circular for curtailing the summer vacation in West Bengal despite the advisory of the state government. But as the heat and humidity lessened a bit, and parents of our children are making constant queries on when the schools are likely to reopen, we have decided to resume on-campus classes from June 20," he was quoted as saying.