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We’ve spent most of the year 2020 in our homes’ safety because of a global pandemic outbreak. With coronavirus taking over the world, businesses, hospitals, religious centers, schools, and colleges came to a halt. The whole world was put under lockdown with complete restriction of activity and movement to stay safe and not be affected by the virus. It was a way to curb the spread of this virus and worked well for a while. But after months of lockdowns, social distancing, and quarantines, governments have slowly started to relax the rigid norms and open out various avenues that have been kept locked for a long time.
It is not that the coronavirus has stopped spreading or has disappeared. But after months of lockdown, it has become clear that the virus continues to spread at its pace, and the nation cannot be under lockdown forever. Recently the Health Ministry announced that schools and colleges are set to reopen from September 21st. Is this the right move? Read on to know more.
What Was The Announcement Made?
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Due to the coronavirus outbreak, schools and colleges have been conducting online classes and exams regularly so that students don’t fall behind in their education. However, they face several challenges with classes being held virtually, which includes poor internet connection, lack of proper interaction, and difficulty in understanding the syllabus due to virtual interaction. For almost 6 months, children have been attending their classes online despite these issues.
However, on September 9th, 2020, the Health Ministry issued an SOP stating that schools and colleges will reopen from September 21st for classes 9 to 12. It would be done voluntarily, which means no compulsion for children to attend schools or colleges. They can seek guidance from their teachers and choose to participate in classes as per their needs. However, no teachers or students from containment zones will be allowed to be present at the schools (1).
What Measures Should Be Taken?
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While parents are quite nervous about this decision, the officials have given the schools and colleges a set of guidelines that need to be followed as a safety protocol. All areas of teaching, including laboratories, libraries, and other common areas, should be sanitized with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution. No sports activities, morning assembly, fests, or any other activity that leads to gathering a crowd is allowed. Every entry point to the school should have sanitizers and thermal screening. Social distancing should be followed throughout the school. Therefore, schools should draw markings six feet apart on the floors of staff rooms, corridors, library, canteen, and other areas.
The Health Ministry stated that attendance is not compulsory, as online classes will continue. Schools and colleges are being open to guide students in case of doubts, emergencies, and other such situations. Students attending school voluntarily will have to carry a written consent form from their parents or guardians. They have to wear their face masks and carry sanitizers without fail, and these visits have to be conducted in a staggered manner to avoid overcrowding. The student-teacher interaction has to be undertaken systematically where each student will be allotted a time to report to school and not be allowed to attend class together (2).
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Classrooms and other seating areas have to be rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained. Upon reopening, students are not allowed to enter the schools without face masks and sanitizers. They are not allowed to share stationery, notes, or books. With all these safety precautions being taken, schools and colleges are set to reopen this month after being shut since March 2020. Do you agree with this decision? Comment below and let us know what you think.
