Schools amidst rising COVID cases: 63% parents say if district TPR crosses 5%, schools should also make online classes available

April 29th, 2022, New Delhi: COVID cases in India have crossed the 3000 mark, with the epicenter being Delhi and NCR as more than 50% of total cases in India are being reported from the region. The daily test positivity rate (TPR) of Delhi-NCR cities has been hovering between 4-8% over the past 2 weeks, with the R-value around 2.1. India’s national R-value has also climbed above 1 indicating that every infected individual is infecting at least 1 person. In a LocalCircles survey released earlier this week, 1 in every 3 Indians surveyed indicated that they believe the 4th wave of COVID has already started in India.

The Prime Minister met with all Chief Ministers earlier this week and advised that COVID norms be followed and steps be taken to ensure that their respective states are ready to handle any rise in cases. Several states that had removed the mask mandates from April 1 have either brought them back or are considering doing so.

Amid rising COVID cases, many parents on LocalCircles have started to discuss about when should schools go back to the online mode of learning and whether both online and offline modes should be considered given the situation. In Delhi and NCR, for instance, nearly 1 in 3 cases of COVID are those of children getting infected with the virus. Schools in Delhi and various parts of NCR are reporting new cases every day, prompting authorities to take measures like locking down the particular class where the infection was detected, asking peers to stay home, etc.

LocalCircles has been closely tracking the pulse of parents on the issue of schools re-opening and shutdown since the beginning of the pandemic and has been escalating the findings to the Central and State Governments. Many administrators have acted according to the collective recommendation made by LocalCircles, both for shutdown and re-opening of schools. Given the recent concerns raised by parents and the conversation of a potential 4th wave on the horizon, LocalCircles has gone back to parents to understand what according to them should be the criteria for schools to restart online classes so learning isn’t disrupted atleast for COVID-impacted students. The survey received 23,500 responses from citizens across 314 districts of India. 62% of the respondents were men while 38% were women. 44% of the parents were from metros or tier 1 districts, 34% from tier 2 districts and 22% from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

63% parents say if district TPR crosses 5%, schools should make online classes also available, so learning isn’t disrupted for impacted students

The first question in the survey asked parents, “COVID cases are rising again in some parts of India. What should be the criteria for schools to restart online classes so learning isn’t disrupted for impacted students?” In response, 27% said “Once TPR is the district crosses 2%”, 36% said “Once TPR is the district crosses 5%”, and 12% said “Once TPR is the district crosses 10%”. 15% said “Online classes should not be started at all and let the COVID impacted children miss classes”. 10% did not have an opinion. On an aggregate basis, 63% of parents say if district TPR crosses 5%, schools should make online classes also available, so learning isn’t disrupted for impacted students. This question in the survey received 11,968 responses.

Only 34% parents in favour of running full schedule physical classes if TPR in a district rises above 5%; another 34% in favour of shorter duration school with no indoor lunch/snack break

In the aftermath of the 3rd COVID wave, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reiterated that health, hygiene and safety must be ensured at all times in its revised guidelines or Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for the safe reopening of schools. This also includes ensuring and monitoring proper cleaning and sanitation facilities in schools, flexible and staggered timing for classes, and strict adherence to masking and social distancing protocols.

The following question asked parents, “In districts where COVID TPR exceeds 5%, what model should be followed by schools?” In response, 34% of parents said “Continue physical classes and school as is” and another 34% said “Move to shorter duration schools with staggered timings and no indoor lunch/snacks”. There were also 29% of parents saying schools should “Shut physical classes and move to online classes”. 3% did not have an opinion. This question in the survey received 11,740 responses.

As the situation stands right now as COVID-19 cases rise steadily, 63% of parents say if district TPR crosses the threshold of 5%, schools should also make online classes available so that learning isn’t disrupted for impacted students. Furthermore, only 34% of parents surveyed are in favour of running full-schedule physical classes if TPR in a district rises above 5%. Another 34% are in favour of shorter duration school with no indoor lunch/snack break. 29% of parents say that physical classes should be shut if district TPR is above 5%. Of course, there are many schools across the country where the online education facility does not exist. In those cases, moving to shorter duration schools might be the best option till the time the TPR declines.

Basis inputs from scientists, epidemiologists, virologists and paediatricians, data on the risk of re-infection and learnings from Long COVID in children from around the world, a conservative approach is warranted in regard to continuing schools when cases start to increase and positivity rates rise. School administrations and district magistrates must keep a close watch on test positivity rates and daily case-loads so corrective actions can be taken in near real time.

LocalCircles will share the findings of this survey with the Central and State Governments so the pulse of parents is taken into account when decisions are made regarding the functioning of schools in the coming months.