The Union of Private Secondary Education Employees has detected an absenteeism rate of over 20% for the beginning of the term. There are still problems such as the irregular distribution of school materials, the constant fear linked to Covid, the respect of barrier measures but also the fear of large number of students in the School on October 18th but above all a resumption, which requires Pastoral Care towards the most affected students. The UPSEE also fears a protest of the repeating students who risk paying very, very dearly! Bhojeparsad Jughdumby explains.
Alarming absenteeism of more than 20
Scaterred Classing constraint, we had to wait until the end of the day on Tuesday 14th for an objective report. For the UPSEE president, this rate of absenteeism could last until next week: “Some parents are still sceptical, they don’t want to consciously expose their children to contamination, and it’s their choice. But this rate is enormous for a new school year for small classes, the estimated attendance for the two days is around 40% and the large classes 60%”, he says. Attendance will therefore take a good week to establish itself. In addition, those in grades 7, 8, 9 and Extended Programmes are affected by the delay in the distribution of their school materials, “this delay concerns almost all subjects. They are trying to manage as best they can, but the ministry must accelerate this distribution which has been dragging on since the beginning of the first term,” he reveals.
Pastoral Care by Staff
Nevertheless, the most disturbing thing about the start of the new school year is that teachers and non-teaching staff are being forced to do ‘pastoral care’ with the pupils. According to the UPSEE president, a majority of them seem traumatised and in a certain lethargy in their functioning. “It is perhaps too early to judge, but as leaders, the staff is concerned and is also acting as a pedagogue and companion for those who are in awkward situations following the Covid”, he also believes that the scattered classing until 18 October is causing some confusion in the mode of operation of students and parents “on the one hand they are preparing for this back to normal in this new pandemic situation. The ministry is ought to make an aggressive sensitisation on the upcoming situation and the behaviour during the return to normal. However, everything is still pending because we are all of the opinion that education is being observed before the return to normalcy in a month’s time. In the meantime, there will be the vaccination of 12- to 17-year-olds, the grand reopening without restrictions and as it concerns health and a pandemic, everything can change for the better or worse. So we remain in suspense, so much for the students”, says Bhojeparsad Jughdumbi.
General Burn Out feared!
While the extension of the second term is understandable for the continuation of the ‘Syllabus’, he points out that 4 months in school in a row is likely to cause a general burn out. “This can affect both pupils and teachers. While this decision is precisely to make up for lost time and complete the syllabus, there is a risk that they will lose all their interest. All those involved in education must be responsible towards this extension,” he said. This second term is on a note of caution at all levels and in preparation for future uncertainties.
Protest against Cambridge
Despite this, the Union’s attention is focused on the demonstration that these repeat students are planning. “The parents of these students will have to pay between Rs 20, 000 and Rs 32, 000 for 5 to 7 subjects in the SC and HSC examinations. If only the 5-credit system had been reviewed in time, there would have been less spite,” the UPSEE president said in conclusion. The date of the protest against the stoic Cambridge is not yet set.
