71% parents will not be sending their children to school in October even if schools reopen

71% parents will not be sending their children to school in October even if schools reopen

LocalCircles had conducted a similar survey in August this year and the percentage of parents who said they would want to send their kids to school during the COVID-19 pandemic stood at 23%. The data clearly shows that with rising COVID cases, percentage of parents willing to send their children to school drops from 23% to 20% in one month.

With rising COVID cases, percentage of parents willing to send their children to school drops from 23% to 20% in one month

Some states like Tamil Nadu and Tripura have announced that schools in their states will reopen from October 1, 2020 on a voluntary basis and children from senior classes i.e. Class 10-12 can visit schools as needed.

In the second question, parents were asked given the current daily COVID-19 case load and the upcoming festive season, what is their position regarding opening of schools in India. In response, 32% said schools should not open till Dec 31, 2020, while 34% said Government should not open schools for this academic year i.e. till March/April 2021. 7% said schools should open from October 1, 2020, 12% said schools should open from November 1, 2020 and 9% said schools should open from December 1, 2020.

Only 28% parents in favour of schools reopening in calendar year 2020; 34% feel they should open only in the next academic year i.e. April 2021

This means that only 28% parents are in favour of schools reopening in calendar year 2020 i.e. before December 31st, 2020, while 34% feel they should open only in the next academic year i.e. April 2021.

Months of October and November have festivals in most parts of India and schools stay closed for many days due to it. Additionally, the upcoming smog season, especially in the northern parts of the country, is also a developing concern for many parents. Last year, after the PM 2.5 touched 900 in Delhi and NCR cities, 74% parents had demanded that the Government announces a ‘smog break’ for schools from Nov 1 -20 each year, keeping in mind the negative health effects that the October/November smog caused due to farm fires in neighbouring states of Punjab & Haryana could have on children’s health. Keeping all this in mind, majority parents think it will be best if the schools are not reopened in the months of October and November and if the COVID-19 situation improves be considered for opening from Jan 1, 2021. However, that is a big if given the way countries around the world are experiencing their second COVID wave, with India’s festive and smog season making things worse, schools may have to likely stay closed for this academic year 2020-21.

LocalCircles will share the findings of this survey with Central and State Government officials so that feedback of parents can be considered as decisions are made on school reopening dates.

Survey Demographics

14,500+ responses were received across 217 districts of India. 68% respondents were men while 32% respondents were women. 61% respondents were from tier 1, 21% from tier 2 and 18% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts. They survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform and all participants are validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.