Teachers of several city schools have been infected with Covid, forcing them out of action, and their absence is affecting school timetables.
Combining sections, dissolving and rescheduling classes and asking substitute teachers to step in for those absent— schools are making stop-gap arrangements so that online classes continue.
In several institutions, between 10 to 20 teachers are on leave and school heads said they are struggling with classes soon after reopening after the winter vacation this week.
At least one school has informed parents of the situation and asked for their cooperation.
The worry in the senior classes is the completion of the syllabus and the workload of the other teachers has gone up, at least one head said.
“We are asking teachers of other sections to take classes because the syllabus has to be completed ahead of the exams,” said Meena Kak, director, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.
In Loreto Convent Entally, work had to be set for a class of senior students offline because the teacher was not in a position to take class.
“It is a matter of concern because the cases are going up. For junior classes we are combining sections and while one teacher is taking class another teacher is doing the attendance and maintaining discipline,” said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Convent Entally.
At South Point, 18 teachers in the senior school and about 12 in the junior school have been affected and the school is struggling with classes.
“It has been quite tough and teachers are somehow juggling. We hope that teachers who were off this week would be back next week,” said Dalbir Kaur Chadda, principal, South Point School.
On Saturday, Indus Valley World School sent a note to parents on the school app: “In view of the current situation, where a large number of our teachers are suffering from Covid infection, we are trying to continue with the online classes to the best of our ability. However, in some cases, if the need arises, we have no choice but to reschedule classes or combine sections. We look forward to your support and understanding in dealing with these difficult times.”
Around 18 teachers of the school have Covid currently.
Principals across schools said that absenteeism is high also among students with many children infected.
Anjana Saha, principal, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, said that online classes were still making things work.
“There is an option of rescheduling classes in an online class and teachers are doing that,” said Saha.