<p>The Centre might have allowed states to decide on re-opening educational institutions from October 15 but a survey conducted recently claimed that 71% of parents were unwilling to send children to schools.</p>.<p>The survey by LocalCircles also claimed that only 28% of parents are in favour of re-opening of schools this year while 34% feel that schools should open only in the next academic year.</p>.<p>The survey conducted last month covered 14,500 parents located in around 217 districts of the country.</p>.<p>To a question on whether they would send their children if schools are reopened in October, 71% responded in the negative while only 20% said ‘yes’. Nine per cent were unsure about it.</p>.<p>In an August survey, 23% had said they would send their children to schools during the pandemic, which showed that there was a three percentage point drop within a month.</p>.<p>Asked about their position on reopening schools keeping in mind the upcoming festive season and Covid-19 case load, 34% felt that schools should not open schools till March/April 2021. Seven per cent people said schools should open from October 1 while 12% said schools should open from November 1 and 9% were of the view that schools should open from December 1.</p>.<p>"This means that only 28% parents are in favour of schools reopening in calendar year 2020 i.e., before December 31st, 2020, while 34% feel they should open only in the next academic year i.e., April 2021," the survey said.</p>.<p>In its new guidelines issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs left it to the states to decide on reopening schools and coaching institutions after October 15 in a graded manner. However, schools should not enforce attendance and children should be allowed only after obtaining written consent from parents.</p>.<p>The guidelines emphasised that online and distance learning should be encouraged and students who prefer to attend online classes in schools should be permitted to do so.</p>.<p>A decision on reopening of colleges and higher education institutes has been left to the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in the Ministry of Education but after a consultation with the MHA.</p>.<p>However, higher education institutions only for research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratory/experimental works will be permitted to open October 15.</p>
<p>The Centre might have allowed states to decide on re-opening educational institutions from October 15 but a survey conducted recently claimed that 71% of parents were unwilling to send children to schools.</p>.<p>The survey by LocalCircles also claimed that only 28% of parents are in favour of re-opening of schools this year while 34% feel that schools should open only in the next academic year.</p>.<p>The survey conducted last month covered 14,500 parents located in around 217 districts of the country.</p>.<p>To a question on whether they would send their children if schools are reopened in October, 71% responded in the negative while only 20% said ‘yes’. Nine per cent were unsure about it.</p>.<p>In an August survey, 23% had said they would send their children to schools during the pandemic, which showed that there was a three percentage point drop within a month.</p>.<p>Asked about their position on reopening schools keeping in mind the upcoming festive season and Covid-19 case load, 34% felt that schools should not open schools till March/April 2021. Seven per cent people said schools should open from October 1 while 12% said schools should open from November 1 and 9% were of the view that schools should open from December 1.</p>.<p>"This means that only 28% parents are in favour of schools reopening in calendar year 2020 i.e., before December 31st, 2020, while 34% feel they should open only in the next academic year i.e., April 2021," the survey said.</p>.<p>In its new guidelines issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs left it to the states to decide on reopening schools and coaching institutions after October 15 in a graded manner. However, schools should not enforce attendance and children should be allowed only after obtaining written consent from parents.</p>.<p>The guidelines emphasised that online and distance learning should be encouraged and students who prefer to attend online classes in schools should be permitted to do so.</p>.<p>A decision on reopening of colleges and higher education institutes has been left to the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in the Ministry of Education but after a consultation with the MHA.</p>.<p>However, higher education institutions only for research scholars (PhD) and post-graduate students in science and technology streams requiring laboratory/experimental works will be permitted to open October 15.</p>
