Schools object to holding of carnival

In the wake of the spread of swine flu,the three-day Chandigarh Carnival being held by the Administration seems to have not gone down well with the Independent Schools Association. Objecting to the event,the association has said while the Administration has asked the schools to suspend classes,it is going ahead with the carnival.

“The situation is much different now than when there were no medicines available to combat the flu. We,therefore,feel that schools should not be targeted when passing directions regarding the disease,” said HS Mamik,president of the association. He added that closing schools does not solve the problem and the Administration should not press the panic button unnecessarily. “Many schools have been closed for a week or two and some children are even faking cough to be sent back from school. Studies are suffering in this environment,” he said. The association said holding the carnival while forcing schools to either cancel or postpone their annual functions is unjustified. “We have been meticulously following all the instructions issued by the department of health,Chandigarh Administration,for combating swine flu. With the Administration itself planning a big carnival,in which nearly 2 to 4 lakh people will participate,we do not understand the selective approach towards schools,” said Mamik.