While fresh time-tables and refresher courses are being prepared and classrooms spruced up for 50% of students that will be allowed, some are preparing to live telecast physical classes for the rest.
The government announced that schools will be reopened to reduce stress among children, experts want the authorities to allow physical activity too.
K Manoharan, principal of SBOA School and Junior College in Anna Nagar, said sterilisation of the campus and new seating arrangements would be completed.
“Our plan is to have odd number and even number students on alternate days to maintain social distancing. We will depute sufficient staff to check the temperature and provide hand sanitisers to students at gates. School breaks also will be staggered to avoid crowding rest rooms and dispersal of students will happen at different timings,” he said.
Schools have also started sanitising the furniture and co-curricular activities will be put on hold indefinitely.
G J Manohar, principal of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet, said teachers will be asked to first revise basic concepts of lessons taught online.
“If teachers completed 3-4 chapters, they need to brush up those lessons in the first two weeks. Only then will children be able to recollect what they learned,” he said, suggesting reopening for Class XII students a week before to iron out any problems.
“Like CBSE, the state board needs to conduct monthly assessment tests to be able to give weightage in case board exams are cancelled.”
M Sathish Kumar, principal of Vana Vani Matriculation Higher Secondary School at IIT-M, said recorded classes would be shared with students opting for online mode.
“We expect more attendance this year. Some parents want school to reopen after vaccination. They wanted the school to organise vaccination camps on campus.”
N Vijayan, senior principal of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Tambaram, said lessons will not be taught straightaway as students will be physically and mentally vulnerable as they are confined within the four walls for most of the past 15 months. “We will start with refresher courses to teach basic concepts from the previous year.”
Clinical neuropsychologist B S Viruthagirinathan said bridge courses, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities were a must to bring students into their comfort zone.
“… To prevent school dropouts and school phobia among children, teachers and headmasters need to be sensitised about possible psychological issues,” he said.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-finally-it-is-back-to-school-for-students-and-teachers/articleshow/85169398.cms
