Fewer younger students attending schools in Jaipur amid rise in Covid-19 cases

Jaipur: After children tested positive for Covid-19 in two prominent private schools in the city, there has been a drop in the number of younger children attending classes physically, according to the management of various schools. The government is now under pressure to ask schools to continue with online classes. Politicians and associations of parents in the city are demanding that at least younger children studying in classes up to five should be given the option of attending classes online.

In Jaipur, 12 people tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest number of cases this month. For this reason, the parents are reluctant to send their children to school.

“The decision to open schools with 100% capacity was taken in a haste. Three children of two private schools testing positive for Covid-19 proves this. The parents are in a dilemma. If they don’t send children to school, one academic year of their children will be wasted. On the other hand, no one wants to put the health of their children at risk,” said Manish Suthar, a resident of Gopalpura Bypass.

Many politicians – particularly associated with the BJP, demanded that the classes for younger children should continue online. The politicians include MP Ramcharan Bohra and Malviya Nagar MLA Kalicharan Saraf.

“Parents are concerned after Covid-19 cases were reported in two schools in Jaipur. Many of them are not sending their children to school. They are waiting for the government to take a step in this direction. The government should take a decision on online classes soon,” said Snehlata Sabu, secretary of the Parents Welfare Society.