As Covid-19 cases in Delhi NCR rise, parents divided over hybrid classes

Parents in Delhi NCR are divided over the question of hybrid classes even as cases across the region rise.

In the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the national capital, parents are split on whether schools in Delhi should return to hybrid learning or stick with traditional classrooms. Taking experts’ views into consideration, a section of parents' are of the opinion that switching to online classes will result in even more learning loss for their children, whereas some have opined that schools should choose a hybrid mode of education, leaving the decision to parents.

Kuldeep Kumar, the father of a seven-year-old said, “There cannot be a single decision which will suit everybody's needs and put the concerns to rest. So why not leave it to parents? Those who want to send will send their kids to school, others will not."

However, Akhilesh Garg presented a different viewpoint, stating, “The option of letting parents take a call is a good one, but it triggers problems for those who want to send their wards for offline classes.”

“If many students opt for online classes, the school will stop transportation service and many others will be forced to opt for online classes because they cannot manage to pick and drop their children themselves," he added.

Another parent, Tanya Agarwal, urged the government to come up with SOPs for places other than schools saying, “Thanks @msisodia @LtGovDelhi for keeping schools open. Also looking forward to SOPs for govt and private offices, cinemas, restaurants, malls, markets, etc where adults work all day and then go home to their families which include kids. SARS-CoV-2 doesn't live only in schools."

Delhi Parents Association President Aparajita Gautam alleged, “Many schools are not maintaining transparency if any child or a staffer is getting infected, thus putting others at risk.”

“Hence, going online for classes is a better option to assuage fears of parents," she added.