A year of missed fun: TN students overjoyed to be returning to school after 10 months

After 10 months of the shutdown, the schools have finally partially reopened in the state for 10th and plus two students. TNIE takes a look at the apprehensions and concerns of the students and teachers.

Gazal KK, a tenth standard student of Cotton Hill Girls’ High School - the largest Girls’ school in Asia with 5000 students, is so excited to be back at school. Clad in school uniforms and masks she was seen chatting with another student in the school corridor. “We feel so relieved to come back to school. It's been so many months since I have met my friends. I couldn't meet all of my classmates as only 10 students are allowed in the class. We had to adjust with the new normal,” says Gazal.

“It's been a year of loss we missed so much fun. There is no class trip and no memories to cherish with my friends. Online class is no fun and now we can ask our doubts directly to the teacher. Also because of connectivity issues many students had issues attending online classes,” adds Gazal.

Though there are restrictions, students had a jolly good time on day one of the reopening of the school. COVID-19 guidelines were strictly followed at the school and each classroom has only 10 students seated one each in a row.

Aparna Prabhakar, a plus two student at the Cotton Hills Girls’ Highschool, aired her concern on the examination which is just a couple of months away. “Teachers are very confident and they are doing their best to help all of us get through the exams. But we are apprehensive. Today they interacted with us and didn't take any lessons. They conversed with us and made us comfortable. We were told that they may cut down the syllabus and the questionnaire will have more sets of questions so that we can choose,” says Aparna Prabhakar.

The school authorities had started preparation for the reopening more than a week back. According to Sindhu C, a teacher at the school, this is the most challenging situation for the teachers. “Online classes cannot match physical classroom experience. In every class there will be different types of students and their learning levels vary. We need to give different levels of attention to these students. There will be students who get B grades and we need to push them and help them get A grade and help students who A grade to get A+,” says Sindhu.

“Many students had connectivity issues and the teachers were constantly in touch with them. Those students were depending on the Victors channel and many used to contact us via Whatsapp and ask us doubt on some particular lesson. We used to send short videos addressing their doubts. It's been a challenging year for both students and teachers. Online class was also a boon as there was no other way to reach the children,” says Sindhu, who has been a teacher for the past 22 years.

Headmaster J Rajasree of Cotton Hill GHSS says all arrangements are in place to ensure the safety of the students coming to the class. “We have set up a thermal scanner at the entrance and temperature will be screened. Hand sanitisers are available everywhere. Also the consent of the parents is a must for attending classes,” said J Rajasree.

Parents were seen waiting at the gate to pick and drop the children and are apprehensive about the safety of the children. “The school authorities have taken full proof measures to ensure their safety. This is going to be the new normal now. I am not scared to send my child to school,” says Bindu G, a parent.