Covid: Masks back on school campuses in Karnataka; attendance, classes not hit

BENGALURU: A majority of schools which have reopened after Christmas holidays have issued a mask mandate to students following a Karnataka government circular. However, this has not impacted classes, student attendance or extracurricular activities which are held on school campus.
Many private schools in Bengaluru have sent circulars to parents asking them to get their children to mask up when in closed spaces like classrooms following an advisory from the department of health and family welfare. Masks are exempted in open spaces like playgrounds.
Said Aloysius D'Mello, principal, Greenwood High International School: "Since there has been concern over new Covid variants, we have suggested masks for students as a precautionary measure. Additionally, this season normally sees a rise in cold and fever incidence. Therefore, wearing masks would help check the spread of these seasonal ailments."
'Attendance and classes unaffected'
The principal added: "It's important to be aware of the pandemic aftereffects and take steps to ensure everyone's safety."
Several other schools said masks were never abandoned completely by students and teachers and the measures have been made more stringent now. "As soon as the government issued the advisory, we wrote to the parents asking them to send children with masks. While children of classes 8-12 were wearing masks even before this advisory, we see more children using masks now," said Manju Balasubramaniam, principal, DPS North.
"However, unlike last time, we have not cancelled any extracurricular programmes because the circular mentions masks are recommended for closed places. Children, in playground, can remove them," she said.
"Our students and staff continue to wear masks. The other precautions - sanitisation, directive to not have staff and students inside institution premises with symptoms - are also in place," said Shanthi Menon, principal, Deens Academy.
D Shashi Kumar, secretary of Association of Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka, said there has been this time around. "There is no panic like last time. Schools have informed parents about the precautions to be taken. Students come with masks. However, hono impact on classes or attendance w many continue to wear them till end of the day is still a question. Schools have all safety measures in place. Students found unwell are isolated. Those who are sick have been asked not to attend classes," he said.