Starting of Schools – Headache for Aurhorities, Concerns for Parents!

• Successive lockdowns have paved way for eventual easing of many restrictions as expected. Now that Unlock 1.0 has kicked in, exit strategies to reboot stalled economic activities will see the day of light in the coming days. However, one sensitive sector that might create definite headache to the Governments’ concerned would be none other than the Education segment. Needless to emphasise, Education sector is extremely delicate by virtue of having to cater to the needs of children right from tiny tots to teenagers.

PC: Digital Learning

• As the Government guidelines specifically advises for the ages below 10 years to not venture out but to stay indoors in the safe confines of home, it is to be seen how Pre-Primary to Grades 4 will be addressed vis-à-vis opening of schools for imparting education. There are various permutations and combinations underway right at the Union Human Resources Development Ministry level as well as the State Education Department to start opening of schools sooner than later.
• Some of the options being contemplated includes staggered opening of schools by first allowing classes for higher Grades i.e. 9 to 12, followed by Grades 5 to 7 and eventually Grades 1 to 4. Other option is to have odd and even days of school for different Grades. For example, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 1,3,5,7,9 & 11 Grades and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for Grades 2,4,6,8,10 & 12 Grades, respectively. Yet another option is to run schools in two shifts i.e. 8 to 12 PM and from 12.30 PM to 4.30 PM for different Grades, respectively.

PC: The FinancialExpress

• However, commencing classes for Pre-Primary involving Nursery, LKG and UKG is undecided yet and hence unclear as to when this segment would receive green signal to commence. For this to happen, the Government has to change / amend guidelines suitably keeping in mind the sensitivities of the parents’ concerned as well. Speaking of parents, one cannot fault them if they are apprehensive and fearful for the safety of their children even though schools are expected to maintain all mandated precautionary measures with unconditional diligence.

PC: The Hindu

• Fear factor will play a defining part in any decision making as parents mull over options viz. adopting pragmatic measure like deciding to send their wards to schools or vehemently resist attempts by citing lack of confidence in safety measures taking precedence over pedagogy. Moot question to ponder over here is how long the parents’ can persist with resisting children from attending schools as and when the same is opened eventually.
• Effective vaccine is still at least a year or two away from invention and would the parents’ be waiting that long before deciding to send their wards to schools’? Bravado versus stark reality. Difficult to answer, I guess. Let’s wait and watch!