Statement of Bhupendrasinh on the issue of starting school-college in the state, clarification regarding the written consent of the parents

After Diwali, education will start in secondary and higher secondary schools, colleges and universities in the state from November 9.  The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.  But after a heated exchange between the parents and the government, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama from the government also announced that the parents who want to send their children to school have to fill in a consent form.  The government’s announcement sparked outrage among parents.  It was alleged by the parents of the children that the government and the school administrators were evading their responsibilities by filing a letter of consent.  The matter has been debated across the state.  Education Minister Bhupendrasinh has clarified this matter today.

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama’s statement on the issue of reopening the school-college has come up today, he said, adding that written permission of the guardian will be given as per the SOP.  No one needs to be misunderstood.  No compromises will be made regarding the safety of children.  The government does not want to escape any responsibility.  Schools and colleges are also open in other states of the country.

According to Bhupendrasinh, Gujarat is not the first state where schools are open.  Earlier, schools were opened in September in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Bihar.  Schools have started in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in October.  Schools open in Andhra Pradesh in November.  Schools will open in Talimnadu from 16th while schools with us in Maharashtra will open on 23rd November.  The curriculum is open wherever schools are open.  Somewhere schools have not been closed.

It may be mentioned here that on Wednesday, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama announced that in the first phase in colleges and universities, only final year classes can be started at the undergraduate level, i.e. first and second year classes cannot be started now.  In addition, in the first phase, classes of all faculties including medical and para-medical will be started at post graduate level.  Final year classes will also start in engineering branch now.

The Education Minister also clarified that as per the case odd-even, the classes of Std. 9 and 11 and Std. 10 and 12 would have to be run by the schools only three days in a week.  He said that the decision to open first and second year classes in Std. 1 to 8 classes and all branches would be taken by the government at the appropriate time.  But then there was resentment among the guardians

The Education Minister said that similar rules apply to all schools of all boards except Gujarat Board, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya as well as schools of Social Justice and Empowerment Department and Tribal Development Department.  Moreover, the institutions have to get the written consent of the parents or guardians of the students to come to the school, then there was resentment among the parents and today the Education Minister clarified about it.