Panchkula: Govt school calls kids, holds classes amid Covid pandemic

PANCHKULA: A government school in Sector 20 was found holding classes on Friday in a clear violation of the norms to keep educational institutions closed owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
Children from class VI to XII carrying schoolbags were made to attend classes in uniform in Sanskriti Model Senior Secondary School. The principal, however, claimed the children were called to fill incomplete forms and documents.
“We are not holding any classes.We had called the children to fill incomplete documents related to new admissions,” said the principal while refusing to give her name. She failed to give a satisfactory answer on why the children were asked to come in school uniform and with school bags. She later said they maintained the social distancing in classes, where children were made to sit.
Deputy commissioner Mukesh Ahuja did not respond to repeated phone calls and SMSs to comment on the issue. According to sources, orders were issued to probe the matter and take relevant action.
Haryana speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta he not aware of any such incident. “But if a school has held classes, I will get the matter checked and take action,” he said.
Parents outside the school alleged the management had called the children by sending messages on phones to attend classes from Friday. One of the parents (not wishing to be named) said, “We sent our child to the school but we were scared that he may catch the deadly virus. We remained outside the school at a distance just waiting for the classes to get over. We are not aware if any documentation were to be completed.” Some parents asked if students were called to fill incomplete documents, why they were told to come in uniform?”