A seven-year-old missed the big playground in school and a 13-year-old had to struggle with network issues — students shared their experience of being back on campus after almost two years.
As the government reopened schools from pre-primary to Class VII, students were back on some of the campuses, many escorted by parents. The Telegraph speaks to students from four different classes
Rian Gupta, lower kindergarten, Leap Years Preschool
I love listening to Three Little Pigs with my friends in school. At home, I have no friends. I play alone, listen to stories alone. I like to play with all together. I missed everything.
Mother Debolina Bhattacharya said: “We live in a standalone building and being a single child, he is all by himself within the four walls of the house and he was missing the open environment. He was getting agitated and would insist on us playing with him but being a working mother, it was difficult for me… Being a four-year-old, he is full of energy and would want me to jump, hop and run with him, something he can do with his friends in school now. We will have to accept the situation and allow him to go out for his well-being.”
Reyansh Sharma Das, Class III, St Lawrence High School
I missed the big playground in school. I could not play today but my teacher said we can play there tomorrow.
Tomorrow, when I go to school, I plan to see my Class II classroom once because I never got a chance to sit there. I went to Class I for two months and now I am in Class III.
We did drawing in school today and the teacher drew a tree on the blackboard. I was not carrying my drawing book but from tomorrow I will take everything with me.
Mother Prerna Sharma Das said: “I sent him to school with instructions that he should wear his mask and not share tiffin with anybody. We told him that if he does not follow the safety protocols, he will not be able to go to school for some days again. We sent him with an extra mask in his bag. As a parent, I took this decision keeping in mind the mental health of my son… He should be able to experience campus life.”
Debanka Dutta, Class V, Sanskrit Collegiate School
I skipped a get-together with my relatives who came on Tuesday, because I did not want to miss school that opened after two long years. I told them that I have to skip the get-together and an outing because I wanted to catch up with my friends whom I missed over the past two years.
When our class teacher, Goutam sir, asked me to share with my friends what reopening meant for me, I told them what was my priority today and they cheered me.
I enrolled in this school in Class I and missed this bonding with my friends during online class. I missed the chattering and playing in the corridor and lawn in groups.
I enjoyed catching up with my friends so much that missing the get-together did not matter much.
Each time I shook hands with friends, I took out the bottle of sanitiser and sanitised my hands.
Teachers were extremely welcoming and I look forward to attending school on Friday again.
Himanka Pal, Class VII, Hindu School
I looked forward to school reopening so I could attend classes without any hassles.
In online classes, which the school held rigorously, like many of my friends, I faced connectivity issues and this hampered my learning. At times, I used to get logged out.
Now that in-person classes have resumed, I look forward to making up for all that I missed.
In school, the teachers understand the deficiencies troubling a student by looking at their face and they proceed accordingly. Discussions and sharing difficulties with friends also helps.
In school, we can access the library that has a rich collection of books.
Online, the collection is not as much and accessing books was not always possible because of connectivity woes.