After breathing a sigh of relief for the downward curve of Covid-19 cases, Delatacorn, a new variant of Covid-19, of late, is emerging and instances of the rising cases are being documented in several states in India. Schools across the country were closed in March 2020 due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the prevailing decreasing curve of the pandemic, schools and colleges had resumed normal functioning in the month of February 2022 due to the upcoming annual examinations.
 

Though not a single case yet emerged in Andhra Pradesh, especially in Vizag, quite a few schools planning to keep a backup online timetable for the next academic year, even though they will begin in-person classes in the new session starting in April. All this and more, due to the unpredictability of the last two years has taught schools to be more flexible and prepared, heads of the schools in Vizag said.
 

As per the study carried out by Hello Vizag, many schools have even asked teachers not to dissolve or disband the social media groups that they have with students or parents. The main difference between an online and in-person class is that there have to be more breaks and fewer periods because "of restricted screen timing" in online mode compared to in-person classes.
 

All almost schools in Andhra Pradesh had started in-person classes in February after the state government gave a go-ahead. But some schools have planned to start from the first week of April, calling all students, as it used to be before the pandemic. A CBSC affiliated school head in Ramnagar said that “keeping a backup online timetable ready because if the situation demands moving back to school from home we should be

Several schools feel if WhatsApp groups are dissolved now it would mean extra work if the switch to online had to be made again. In view, many school heads asked teachers not to disband the class groups on social media. If at all, the need arises only changing the class teacher, who is the admin of the group, would be enough and one would not have to prepare the data of an entire class once again," said another principal of the convent school.

Many prominent schools in Vizag already started off from the first week of March, with no option of online classes as of now. Also, some schools have decided to do away with hybrid (simultaneous online and offline classes) if the situation continues to remain like this. But, with the prevailing situation of the emerging new variant of Covid cases, we are well prepared for different timetables said the acting principal of another CBSE affiliated school.

Stating further, he said preparing two timetables is extra work for school, heads said. Particularly in an online class, schools try to give short breaks to the students in between periods to give rest from screen time. But the number of periods in offline mode is seven or eight which is four or five in online. After having learnt from the pandemic period, many schools might not do away with the advantages of the online mode.