Class 10 and 12 students returned to classrooms in Karnataka on January 01 when the state reopened schools after a gap of nearly 10 months. Students from grades 6-9 were also allowed to campuses for Vidyagama programme. While declining number of COVID patients is good news, the experts and civil society members have been expressing concerns about the saftey and well being of the children. The private schools have asked parents to take responsibility for the safety of the children. It has caused resentment among the parents.
Nafih Mohammed Naser, a child rights activist based in Karnataka, has urged the government to reserve beds for children below the age of 18 years in all the government and private hospitals in the state. He said, “The resentment of some of the parents is justified. The schools should own their responsibility. I understand the importance of education for young kids and hence I urge the government to take all possible precautionary measures if there is any spread of coronavirus among children in any particular school”
“The government should reserve some beds in every hospital of the state exclusively for the children below the age of 18 years. Precaution is always better than cure.”
