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A Delhi government-aided school in Tis Hazari has been shut for a week after a student reportedly tested positive for Covid-19. On Monday, parents protested outside Queen Mary’s School, alleging that the standard operating procedure (SOP) for Covid were not being followed, leading to the infection.
A Class XI student tested positive on February 27 as per the reports being circulated on a school group. According to parents, the student had attended school till February 24.
School authorities, however, said they were yet to get a hard copy of any report and the parents did not inform the school.
Sanjay Solomon, who said he worked at the principal’s office, told TOI, “The parents did not inform the school about the reports. But since other parents had raised concern, the principal decided to close down the school for a week in consultation with the management.”
According to a message sent to the students, “The school will remain closed for students of classes IX to XII from March 2 to March 6, 2021. The students will have to submit their corona-negative report to their class teachers of March 8.”
Solomon also hinted that the protest by “a few parents” was actually against the offline exams scheduled for classes IX and XI. “The parents had even come on Saturday saying they wanted exams to be held online. There were just a few of them. The guidelines say the exams have to be conducted offline,” he said.
However, a parent said, “When our children have already been going to school, why would we have problems in making them sit for the exams?” Their main issue, the parent said, is that the school is not following any Covid SOP. “There is no thermal screening, the social distancing is also not being followed adequately. When we came to the school, nobody checked us or ensured that social distancing was followed.” On Monday, police were called in as a large gathering is prohibited under the Covid protocols.
The school has cancelled a practical exam scheduled on Tuesday. “But from March 8, examinations will begin and what will the school change in a week?” asked a parent. “We wonder how many more students had come in contact with the child,” said the worried parent.
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