Parents of students staying at hostels in Darjeeling schools are in a dilemma over whether to take their wards home after the Bengal government ordered the closure of all educational institutions from Monday till March 31 in the wake of the threat posed by the novel coronavirus.

The schools have asked parents to make their own choice.

Rev. Joy Halder, rector, St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling, said: “We are trying to guide every parent. The parents have the option to keep them back at the school or take them.”

Many school authorities believe since the boarders are “clean” — all have returned almost a month ago after their winter vacation, the risk of “renewed travel” is high.

In fact, St Paul’s has put out an advisory informing that most parents “have decided to keep the boys back in school” considering the travel risks.

“Parents are not to be swayed by their wards’ phone calls. Please call your respective heads and make your decision,” the advisory reads.

St Paul’s has 400-odd boarders who include foreigners also.

Parents of some boarders have already reached Darjeeling and in a written message, one of them has said: “We would like to see arrangements made from your end to keep our wards safe. Specially, the dorm (dormitory), kitchen and food being supplied to school(sic).”

Others are adamant that they have to take their wards home.

Fr Leo Alphonse Raj, principal, St Joseph’s School (North Point), Darjeeling, has said parents can take their wards home by Tuesday. “Parents who take their wards home, please make sure that when your wards return to school, you shall also submit to the school authorities a fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner.”

The Darjeeling hills have over 50 ICSE schools with around 18,000 students, of whom nearly 3,000 are boarders.

Many of the boarders belong to countries like Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and even UK, UAE and Japan.

Even though the government has directed the schools to remain closed till March 31, school heads said many boarders might not be able to return till mid-April because of ban on travel announced by the Centre.

“Some of my students from Bangladesh left today (Sunday). We have provided them with a letter. They will not be able to return till mid-April even if classes are to start from April 1,” said Captain Prakash Pradhan, director, Rockvale Academy, Kalimpong.

Fatima Tujzohora Mim, a Class XI student of Rockvale told The Telegraph over the phone from the Bangladesh side of Fulbari border post: “We are a group of five and we did not face any problem entering Bangladesh. However, no one is allowed to come from Bangladesh to India. So, our parents could not come to fetch us.”

The group said they would travel to Saidpur airport in Bangladesh and take a flight to Dhaka. The airport is a two-hour drive from the border.