The parents of many students of classes IX and XI are reluctant to send their children to school, said school heads who have taken feedback from guardians in writing or verbally.
The fear of a surge in Covid cases after the festive season and the fact that children are yet to be vaccinated against the disease are stoking the reluctance of the parents, the heads said.
The Bengal government has allowed the reopening of government-run and government-aided schools for classes IX to XII from November 16.
The decision doesn’t strictly cover private schools, an official had said.
Some private schools, however, have started sending consent forms to parents to understand how many students would attend in-person classes.
At Indus Valley World School, the parents of about 20 per cent students of Class IX and 15 per cent students of Class XI have signed the consent form, agreeing to send their children to school.
At South City International School, the parents of about 30 per cent students of Class IX are wary of sending their children to school.
At Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, a review of feedback forms filled in by parents has revealed that half of them are reluctant to send their children to school.
“Cases of infection may have made parents nervous,” said Amita Prasad, director of Indus Valley World School. Several school heads have had meetings with parents to get an idea of how many are willing to send their children to school.
Parents are worried their children may contract the virus on their way to school and back home and are also apprehensive about the efficacy of the safety measures on the campus.
Many private schools are focusing on the students of classes X and XII, because they will soon appear in board exams (ICSE/ISC and CBSE) offline.
The students of the rest of the classes will be called gradually or told to come to school only for practicals.
“Parents of students of classes X and XII know they have to send their children to school for exams. But those in Classes IX and XI are in a dilemma, indecisive on whether they should take the risk or not,” said Seema Sapru, principal of the Heritage School, which held a meeting with parents on Monday.
Colleen Smith, principal of Julien Day School, Kolkata branch, said parents were watching the Covid situation before taking a decision.
"We will send out consent forms the week after Diwali because by then the festive season would be over and the Covid graph would be clearer. Parents will be better informed about the situation and that would help them make a decision," said Terence John, principal of Julien Day School, Kalyani.