11-05-2025
Schools in Mohali and Chandigarh brace for online classes — if peace doesn't return
(Written by PRISHA ARORA)
UNCERTAINTY LOOMS over schools in Mohali and Chandigarh after shelling rocked the Kashmir Valley and the International Border in Jammu Saturday night, hours after a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Educational institutions are preparing for a possible transition to online classes should the situation remain unresolved.
Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Mohali, in a notice to parents, stated that if closures continued, online classes would begin on Monday.
The school has advised students to keep laptops, textbooks, notebooks and other resources ready to ensure a smooth shift to remote learning.
Further updates are expected by Sunday afternoon through Skolaro and Google Classroom.
Karandeep Singh Brar, chairman of St. Soldier International Convent School, Phase 7, Mohali, said online classes for students up to Grade 12 began on May 1.
'If the situation improves, we will return to offline classes. If further closure orders are issued, we will continue online,' he said.
Brar added that mock drill guidelines were communicated during the morning assembly by the school principal, and drills will be conducted once the school reopens.
Rajnish Kumar, manager of Shastri Model School, said a mock drill was held on Thursday as a precautionary step.
'We are ensuring safety at all levels. If the situation escalates, we may have to consider online classes from Monday as it's safe for both staff and students,' he said.
Strawberry Fields High School in Chandigarh, affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), has also stepped up preparedness.
'There's no way we can avoid mock drills or preparedness measures under the CISCE norms. We conducted one on Thursday and regularly carry out disaster management drills,' said Atul Khanna, the school's director.
He added that the school is ready to switch to online mode if required and will assess the situation until Monday.
Anil Sharma, public relations officer at Manav Mangal Smart School, Phase 7, Mohali, said the institution is still in discussions.
'To date, there has been no notice. We'll see on Monday what the condition is,' he said, adding that further decisions would depend on developments over the weekend.
