‘Lack of clarity’ worries parents as Telangana schools reopen, consent forms stoke alarm

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Hyderabad: The “lack of clarity” and the “suddenness” with which the Telangana government has ordered the reopening of educational institutions have worried parents in the state. And this is enhanced by the ‘consent forms’ of three schools that are free from managing all responsibility towards the health of the children.

Following the state government’s order last week for all educational institutions – from kindergarten to post-graduation – to resume physical classes, several schools in Hyderabad have sent forms to parents for children returning to schools from September 1. asked for his consent.

However, at least three schools asked parents to sign a declaration stating that the school management is not responsible for the children’s health or any “unpleasant incident”.

In a form sent by Sujata High School, one of the oldest schools in the city, the management has asked parents to take responsibility for their child’s health.

He was asked to downplay a statement on a form accessed by ThePrint, which read: “I declare that I am sending my child to school at my own risk and responsibility and I am responsible for my child’s health. I will not be held responsible. “

The Delhi School of Excellence, which has branches across the city, sent out a similar form asking parents to declare that they were “voluntarily sending their wards to the school and the school for any untoward incident.” will not be held responsible”.

Another renowned institute in Hyderabad, Geetanjali Group of Schools also asked parents to take full responsibility for their child’s health and said that it does not hold the school responsible if it takes precautions.

“It is impossible to determine who has it and who has not given the current limits in virus testing,” read an internal circular from the school.

All these three forms, meanwhile, also listed out the precautionary protocols that schools are taking against Covid to keep children safe, such as social distancing and mandatory masking.

Ashish Naredi, member of the Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA) – an independent organization consisting mostly of parents of children attending private schools – and parents of a Class 8 student, who has been criticized for using language in blasphemous forms. is called.

“Parents and schools are not against each other. What we have to ensure is the safety of the children. The language used by these schools in the MoU is condemnable. It is as if schools are turning their backs on the child’s health. How will parents sign such a declaration in such times,” Naredi told ThePrint.

ThePrint reached out to the Delhi School of Excellence via call and the Gitanjali Group of Schools over email for a comment, but did not receive a response till the time this report was published. Meanwhile, Sujatha High School declined to comment over a phone call.

Till the publication of this report, Hyderabad District Education Officer R. Text messages and calls from Rohini also did not elicit any response.

Read also: Staggered timing of classes, lunch time at 50% capacity – How Delhi is reopening schools from September 1

Poor planning, lack of clarity from KCR govt, say parents

Parents of school children have also criticized the lack of clarity in the state government’s order to reopen schools. Unlike other states, K. The Chandrashekhar Rao-led government has not worked out a formal modalities for the resumption of physical classes.

The Telangana government on August 24 issued a memo announcing the reopening of educational institutions. On the same day, in another circular, the government issued a list of basic COVID protocols to be followed, which included sanitizing the premises and moving symptomatic children to health centres. No other protocol specific for the resumption of schools has been issued yet.

According to Seema Agarwal, another HSPA member, “No clear instructions have been given to the parents. It is left to their will and choice how they want to work.”

He further said that a survey conducted among 300 parents of the association showed that around 87 per cent of them were not willing to send children to offline classes.

“I am really surprised how the government said that all institutions can reopen without listing some detailed guidelines. I think the first step before calling any child to school is to ensure that all teachers are vaccinated, at least with the first dose,” Naredi said.

Meanwhile, Telangana High Court is ready for hear a public interest litigation Against the reopening of schools on August 31.

(Edited by Rachel John)

Read also: 53% of Indian parents are willing to send children back to school, up from 20% in June, finds survey

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