Parents of students at government and private schools of coal town have welcomed the state government’s decision to close down schools and colleges in view of the rising Covid-19 cases.

Students appearing for their board exams will be allowed to visit their respective examination centres and appear for the exams as per the schedule set by the various boards. Other students will attend classes online and through digital mediums, a notification released by the Home Prison and Disaster Management Department stated on Tuesday.

Ashwini Singh , a Dhaiya based chemist, told The Telegraph Online: “I was very concerned over the safety of my son, a student of class X at J.K. Sinha Memorial International School and praying to god for the government restrictions in view of the increasing cases of Covid.”

“I felt quite relaxed after the arrival of the latest diktat of the government as there is no logic of risking the life of the children,” said Singh.

Biswajit Bhattacharjee, a Dhanbad based lawyer whose daughter is in Class VIII said, “me and my wife were having sleepless night ever since we came to know about the offline classes beginning in our daughter’s school since Monday (April 5) and didn’t send our daughter to the school but eventually the government re-imposed the restrictions.”

Khusi Kumari, a student of Class IX of BSS Balwadi High School said, “We reached the school this morning at around 6.30 am but after an hour we were informed by the school authorities about the latest government order and we returned back to home.”

“Though, offline classes are slightly better than the online classes but safety is equally important so we are happy with the government decision in this regard,” said Kumari.

Office bearers of parents association, Jharkhand Abhibhavak Manch, also welcomed the government decision.

Madhurendra Singh, president of Jharkhand Abhibhavak Manch said, “We have been demanding closure of schools ever since their reopening as there was no logic of opening the schools at a time when the pandemic situation is turning grimmer day by day”

“We welcome the government decision and at same times request the government to take cognizance of the demand of the annual charges by the management of different private schools despite the fact offline classes were not held during the last session,” said Singh.

Anajali Gupta, principal of BSS Balwadi high school,Dhanbad said, “We have closed the school for Class I to IX as per the government order but the class X students will have to come to the schools for their practical classes and some pending examinations etc.”