They demanded that the classes for classes 6 to 8 should be started from February 15 and for classes 1 to 5 from February 22 and submitted a representation to Chitra Ramachandran, special chief secretary, education on the subject.
“Since February 1, high schools have been running in the state smoothly. Even in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh state, schools have been reopened for all classes. It’s high time even we reopen schools for students of class 1 to class 8 so that they get to attend schools at least for a few months during the current academic year,” said K Jangaiah, president, Telangana State United Teachers Federation (TSUTF).
The TS UTF state committee members have also requested the government to recruit service persons for sanitation management in all government schools.
“No high school in the state currently has a sanitation worker. We can’t completely depend on local bodies or municipal corporations for sanitation as they are only cleaning school premises, but not washrooms. Toilets need to be cleaned at least twice in a day as many students use them,” said Chava Ravi, a government teacher and general secretary. He said that sanitation workers are needed more than ever during the pandemic and requested the state to not ignore this aspect.