Parental consent for children to attend physical classes mandatory: TS informs High Court

The government said the online classes would continue simultaneously with physical classes, and students would have the choice to opt either.

Hyderabad: The State government on Wednesday informed the Telangana High Court that parental consent for children to attend physical classes when schools reopen in the State on July 1 would be mandatory. The modalities of reopening the schools are being worked out and these would be made known soon, Sandeep Kumar Sulthania, Secretary, Department of Education, submitted to the court through the Advocate General.

The government said the online classes would continue simultaneously with physical classes, and students would have the choice to opt either. However, children opting for physical classes will have to produce parental consent, a two judge panel of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy was informed.

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The panel earlier observed that it would be difficult for children to maintain physical distancing and other Covid appropriate behaviour.

The Advocate General submitted that parents’ consent will be made mandatory and a detailed sketch along with directions to schools shall be issued within a week. Senior Counsel L Ravichander referred to the categories listed for priority vaccination and said that in view of the new policy to open up schools and colleges, even teachers and school staff must be included in the priority list. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for further hearing.