All government schools reopened in the district as per the state government order observing the laid guidelines on Monday. In some public schools pre-board examinations were held observing the state government guidelines but a majority of the public schools have decided to open two-three days later after making necessary preparations.

Talking to the Telegraph Online on Monday, Principal of BSS Ucchh Vidyalaya, Anjali Gupta said, “We have opened the school today for Class X and XII observing all the Covid guidelines like carrying out sanitization of the entire campus, ensuring all students and staff are wearing a mask, obtaining the consent letter of the parents, etc.”

“As the classes being held on rotational basis, only 30% of such students who have brought the consent of their respective parents have been allowed,” said Gupta.

Khusi Kumari, a Class X student of BSS Ucch Vidyalaya who attended the class on Monday said, “Though classes were being held online but returning to the campus after a gap of 10 months and attending classes face to face, we realised the advantage of classroom study.”

“My father is a roadside tea stall owner and a non matriculate but he realises the significance of education and didn’t think twice before giving his consent for attending classes for me,” said Kumari and added that as their board examinations are likely after two months and the time of school reopening is very crucial as it provides them to clarify their doubts on various topics.

Payal Kumari another Class X student of the school said, “Though the ongoing online teaching is no way inferior but studying in classrooms helps to develop a sense of competition among students and propels students to excel which is slightly missing in virtual classes.”

Echoing sentiments with their counterparts in government schools, students of Rajkamal Saraswati Vidya Mandir Dhanbad, a public school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education in Dhanbad where pre-board of Class X and Class XII began on Monday also welcomed the reopening of the school.

Students of BSS Girls High School, Dhanbad passing through the hand sanitizing process and handing over the parents consent letters to their teachers before enter into their classroom on Monday. Picture by Gautam Dey

Talking to The Telegraph Online, Abhishek Singh, a Class XII pre-board examinee of Rajkamal Saraswati Vidya Mandir - Dhanbad said, “We are happy returning to the campus after a gap of more than nine months and expect that the situation will normalise in the coming days and all activities will return to the campus.”

Alok Nayan Kashyap another pre-board of Class XII examinee of the same school said, “With the beginning of the examinations on Monday we expect other activities like practical classes will resume in school as for Science students practical classes in the laboratory are quite crucial.”

Principal of DAV Public School Koylangar, Rakesh Singh while talking to media this morning said, “We will resume classes after December 23, after completing all necessary preparation like obtaining the consent of parents and comprehensive sanitization of the entire campus is being carried out.”