Schools reopen in Hyderabad after one-and-a-half years

During prayer time around 9 a.m. at Attapur Primary School, only three students had turned up to attend classes

Confusion, safety concerns and lethargy turned school reopening in Hyderabad into a tame affair. Schools in the city and State have been shut for the past one-and-a-half years due to COVID-19 lockdown. During prayer time around 9 a.m. at Attapur Primary School, only three students had turned up to attend classes. One boy cycled into the school to enquire when the school will start functioning and then peddled back home to return in uniform. “Attending classes is better than online classes as we get to study as well as play and meet friends. I like to study in school, at home it is different,” said Gnaneshwar, a Class V student, who returned to school after studying Class III. “I am sending messages and parents are calling up to ask about reopening. Parents got confused as the HC orders for residential schools were misinterpreted as extending to all schools,” said Suhasini, the head mistress of the school while attending to multiple calls from parents.