Schools closed, what about Coaching Centres?

The government after the resurgence in the deadly COVID-19 cases has ordered the closure of the Schools up to Class 12^th across Jammu and Kashmir with an aim to prevent the cases from spreading among the students as well as ensuring safety of the children. However, at a time when these educational institutions have been closed, there has been quiet silence from the government side over the continuation of the physical classes at the Coaching centers. One fails to understand the reasons behind the continuous opening of the coaching centers here. The Schools where the students especially those who belong to the downtrodden section of the society would have helped the children to get education without any hindrance in case the strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines could have been ensured at the educational institutions. However, closing down the Schools and allowing the coaching centres to function amid the surge in cases is only affecting the education of the students, who come from downtrodden sections of the society. There is a need to understand that many of the students can’t afford the tuition fees and solemnly rely on the lectures being delivered to them in the Schools. There is a need to understand that the COVID cases can be detected from coaching centres too here, thus keeping it open would also lead to the surge in the cases. Therefore, keeping in view this entire situation and especially the sufferings of poor students, the government should consider opening the Schools forthwith to continue with normal functioning amid strict adherence to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).