SHILLONG: Principal of St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, Father Anthony Kharkongor, on Thursday said the time did not look right to reopen schools especially from nursery to Class VIII adding the government should issue guidelines for educational institutions to follow..
“Looking at the situation we are now in, I feel we should not go ahead with the opening of schools especially from nursery to class VIII. But perhaps, we can open with some exceptions maintaining protocols for those who are appearing in the Board examinations in IX, X, XI and XII”, he told reporters.
He, however, expressed concern over admission to Class XI saying things will be completely new for which they are caught in “a very tight situation”.
“We are certainly facing a big problem especially with regard to admission to class XI although the government has issued the the guidelines. But still we are not sure how it is going to be. It will not be as before. It is going to be completely new”, Kharkongor said.
The educational institutions have not been told to go online for admission to class XI.
He said that the school distributed the forms as parents from different districts sought admission.
“But how to allow the parents to bring the forms, follow the guidelines of the government and to allow 40 students to come at a time and maintain social distancing”, he said. As for online application, he said it will be a big problem for those in the remote areas with even those in the city finding difficulty with the network.
“Even here in St. Anthony’s, we are able to reach 80 per cent students, but what about the 20 per cent who cannot have mobile phones or internet facility? It is very tough, it needs time”, he said adding that he does not completely believe in the efficacy of online classes.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, students were seen queuing up outside St Anthony’s College for admission defying the rain.
A student, Dhruba Kanika, wishes to pursue further studies in Assam but the situation does not permit.
“I don’t think this year will be possible”, he told this reporter.