Classes 9 to 12 students back to colleges in parts of UP after 7 months, but miss previous days.

Uttar Pradesh schools will reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from today, October 19. The Uttar Pradesh Government has issued a slew of guidelines in the view of the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety and security of students.

Many schools in Uttar Pradesh reopened from Monday after the government granted permission to open institutes outside containment zones as per the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines.

Following strict COVID-19 protocols, the schools reopened for class 9 to 12 in parts of Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Lucknow, and Noida.

As per the protocols, children wouldn't be allowed to attend the school without mask and hand sanitizer; their thermal scanning would be done at the gate and that they require a consent letter from the oldsters before coming to high school. Once inside, they shall be seated maintaining social distance within the classrooms. 

 

“Students, whose parents gave written consent, were permitted entry today. We aren’t allowing quite 20 students during a class,” P.S.Ganesh, manager of a personal school in Ghaziabad, told ANI.

In Noida, the category 9 and 10 students of a faculty in Sector 12 were happy to return there after seven months. “We’ve been instructed to sanitize our hands, follow social distancing, and to not share stationary with other students,” Aman, a category 10 student, said.

Meanwhile, a personal school in Lucknow welcomed students with a “Back To School” poster”. “We’re are happy to possess them back. Without students, the varsity was just reduced to four walls. We are following all COVID-19 protocols,” Veera Hajela, Principal of City Montessori School said.

He added if any child shows signs of fever or the other symptom, his/her family are going to be contacted and h/she are going to be sent back home immediately. 

 

Lucknow: Students of classes 10 and 12 who were back to high school on Monday missed the texture and fun of per-Covid days thanks to restrictions on movement, not all friends coming and sitting apart with mates in school despite meeting after several months, but still said it had been good for clearing doubts.

“I had made an inventory of concepts that I couldn’t understand in online classes to ask my teacher. Opening of faculty is of great help for board students like us who need to revise and understand concepts to attain good in board exams,” said Arvi Singh, class X student of Lucknow Public School.

She said classes were helpful but many friends were absent and even those that did sat apart in rows.

Class XII student Arvind Upadhyay of City Montessori School, Aliganj said, “No morning assembly, no interval, no hanging around after school got over, we missed tons , but doing chemistry practical helped in reducing stress of performance in board exams.” 

“Nothing can replace classroom teaching. I helped students do practical’s,” said Neelu Gupta, teacher of Saint Joseph College.

 

Abhinay Garg of St Dominic said, “I was very excited to attend school and had readied my uniform on Sunday morning, but there have been only seven folks in my class. I felt as if it had been online class only. We couldn't talk much thanks to social distancing and hanging around after school was against rules.”

A few students enjoyed the sight of faculty, friends and teacher after an extended time.

“I thought I will never be able to sit with my friends in the classroom and crack jokes this year. However, today we came together though we couldn't hug one another but still talked while maintaining social distancing,” said Akansha Saini, class XII student at New Way Senior Secondary School, Aliganj.

Neelaksh Chandra, class X student of St. Joseph Cathedral, said, “It is sweet that classes have resumed. I used to be unable to review properly in online classes thanks to poor internet connectivity in my area.”

Some students said they were fearful and didn’t want to return but did so as to not miss anything in practical. “I didn’t want to return as my friends weren't coming. But I came to attend as I had to clear some doubts and thought something extra could be taught,” said a class X boy. Meanwhile, teachers carried tripods and mobile stands to live classes for those who were attending online. 

Punjab and Sikkim Government have also decided to reopen schools. Punjab schools will reopen today for students of Classes 9 to 12. The classes will be held in the areas outside containment zones. Schools in Sikkim, as per government’s order, will reopen today in a graded manner. Winter vacations will be cancelled and in a bid to cover the loss, classes will be held six days a week.