Reopen schools, say academics, doctors, lawyers and parents

Reopen schools, say academics, doctors, lawyers and parents

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:29.07.2021

Over 50 academicians, including professors from IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi and Delhi University, doctors, lawyers and parents from Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka, have written an open letter to CMs of their respective states, presenting a case to reopen schools.

The petitioners have said there may never be a “zero-case scenario” as Covid-19 is here to stay. They said in addition to learning loss, children are facing mental distress, facing reduced development of social skills and losing confidence. Schools have largely remained closed for 16 months, even as scientific evidence is in favour of reopening schools with safety protocols, they added.

Times View: From all accounts, the pandemic isn’t going to disappear in the near future. Senior academics and other experts have raised significant points about reopening of schools which need to be carefully looked into by authorities.