Orchid International School has informed parents that online classes will start from June 15 till permission for regular physical operations is given.

Mumbai: The Sion branch of Orchids International School will resume physical classes on or before July 1, the management told parents on Thursday, a day after the Education Inspector (North) pasted a notice outside the campus declaring the school “unauthorized” pending approval, causing panic among families days before the new academic year.The school has informed parents that online classes will start from June 15 till permission is given for regular physical operations. However, parents said they are worried and are waiting for the notices put up outside the school to be removed before feeling reassured.“Still don’t know what to do,” one parent said. “Once the notice is removed from the front of the school, we will get some assurance. We are not looking for any admission as of now. The school has said that they will start online classes from 15th of this month and then try to start physical classes on or before July 1st.The uncertainty arose after the education inspectorate took action against the Sion branch on Wednesday, when officials flagged issues related to approval and asked parents to start seeking admissions elsewhere. Several parents had reached the school demanding clarity after the notice appeared outside the campus.Rahul Gharte, operations manager of the school, said: “Schools have to apply for recognition and approval every three years. This year, while applying, there was a change in the criteria under which schools were also required to submit the occupation certificate (OC) of the building. To get the OC, we first needed the fire department’s NOC. Later the fire department suggested some structural changes and improvements, which took some time to complete. After completing those changes, we received the fire NOC for the building and now we have applied again to the education department with all the necessary permissions and documents for recognition.Parents said the biggest concern was the uncertainty around the reopening of schools, especially when most families had already completed admissions and paid fees. Many said they are now waiting for Sunday’s meeting organized by the school management to decide what to do next.