Orders were issued for not holding prayer assemblies in schools because of the danger of swine flu. The same orders were withdrawn within 6 hours.

The perilous swine flu is showing its effect everywhere. To avoid spreading of this disease in schools, education department issued orders that no schools should hold prayer assemblies. They said this order was issued on behalf of Collector whereas the Collector denied giving any such order. Within 6 hours of issuing this order, education department withdrew this notice when the matter reached Collector’s office.

Nodal officer and District Education Officer Naresh Dangi issued orders to all private and government schools that since swine flu is on the rise no schools should have prayer assemblies. This was to be followed until further notice. The notice also said that all students suffering from cold or cough should be given immediate treatment and parents of these children should be immediately informed.

ADO Kundanmal Pokharna said that the orders were issued by mistake. Collector Vishnu Charan Mallik denied having issued any such order. He said that a meeting was held on Wednesday as per which it was decided that children suffering from cough and cold should be asked to stay at home and parents should be intimated of the same. In case a student comes to school in such a condition, he should be given immediate treatment and parents should be notified to keep the child at home until he recovers.

As per officers of medical department, out of the people ailing from swine flu 20 % are school teachers and children. Children are at a major risk from this flu. The big question is that when Uttar Pradesh has stopped morning assemblies in school because of swine flu, why have the orders been withdrawn here? Too many people have become victims of this fatal flu. Swine flu has already claimed a lot of lives in the city. Keeping that in mind, school assemblies should be stopped with immediate effect.