Schools plan to call half their students to avoid over-crowding, clusters

---

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

03.01.2022

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, city schools have decided to return to blended classrooms from Monday as they plan to call only half their students for physical classes to ensure Covid-19 protocols inside classrooms.

Due to a spike in cases, the state government has reversed its decision to resume normal classes for Class IX to XII from January 3, apart from barring physical classes for Class I to VIII till January 10.

While asking schools to conduct physical classes for Class IX to XIII, the school education department asked schools to maintain   protocols like 20 students per classroom, face masks and staggeredbreaks.

Due to non-availability of space and teachers, some schools are planning to call studentsin batches while othersare planning to call 50% students to avoid over-crowding.

V Shanthi, headmistress of Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar, said, the school may call 50% students from Class IX to XII for physical classes to maintain the 20 students per classroom nor m.

M SathishKumar, principal of Vana Vani Matriculation Higher Secondary School, (IIT-M campus), said, the school will divide students of Class IX to XII into two batches to maintain social distancing inside classrooms. “Class IX and XIstudents will attend physical classes whenever Class X, XII do not have tests. During the test days, they will attend classes online,” he said.

GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary Schoolin Ashok Nagar is planning to work only till 1pm to avoid students having lunch and mixing with other students.

"We have arranged two students in a row and plan to work only till 1pm. Students will not be permitted to have lunch at schools," said Agnes Rita, principal of the school.

Most schools have scheduled online classes for Class I to VIII.

Schools with more students like Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kolathur are planning to employ additional teachers and conduct daily classes for Classes I to VIII.

Colleges are preparing students for offline semester exams from January 20. "We have completed syllabus for second and third year students. Still about 20% of syllabus need to be completed for first year students. If Covid-19 cases continue to rise, we can conduct physical mode exams by extending number of exam days. We can conduct semester exams yearwise by following all Covid protocols," said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of DG Vaishnav College.

Professors warned the degrees may not be valued by the recruiters if the state government again go back to online mode of exams.