Schools should not jump the gun

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The coronavirus pandemic has taken away a golden phase of life from the kids — the boundless mirth and excitement of school life — that can never be replicated in a virtual mode. With almost two years of school life wiped out, things will never be the same for them. But the circumstances were beyond anyone’s control and were done keeping the best interest of the kids in mind. Some states are considering reopening of schools in a staggered manner. Many schools in Andhra Pradesh reopened on August 16.

We are yet to see the end of the pandemic and with the spectre of the third wave described by many experts as inevitable and imminent, we can ill-afford to throw children into this deadly uncertainty. With no visibility of vaccine for children and a hazy timeline related to return to normalcy, the state governments should look at reopening schools only after the threat of third wave is gone.

There is no denying that virtual mode of teaching is only a temporary solution and signs of restlessness and fidgety behaviour are being witnessed among children. There is also no denying that a large number of children are not receiving any lessons since many cannot afford to have a phone or computer with internet connectivity every day to attend classes. Yet preserving life is the most fundamental of all measures and protecting children from the threat of the virus that has killed millions should be the priority. The pandemic has highlighted the soft underbelly of our healthcare system and no government should take any risk, especially when the constituency consists of children.

Very few schools in our country have campuses spacious enough to implement distancing protocols, and moreover, even in the few that might have, expecting kids to observe them would be utter stupidity. Parents, too, will not be comfortable to send their children at this hour and this sentiment should be respected.

School authorities also need to ponder over the matter. Governments should not act in haste. Only after normalcy returns to society should they think of reopening schools. In such matters, it is better to err on the side of caution.