Schools Are Reopening in September 2020

Schools Are Reopening in September 2020 

Sumera Naz                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                             19th July 2020

A few days ago, the federal education minister Mr. Shafqat Mahmood has declared that all educational institutions will reopen w.e.f 15 September 20; It was finalized in a virtual meeting with education ministers of all provinces a day before, it was also discussed in the meeting that the concerned ministry will seek approval from the National Health Sciences department and National Coordination Committee. Besides this, the government has planned for conducting entry tests in Medical and Engineering universities of the country with the formal approval of NCC and National Command and Operation Centre. On the other end, the education minister has warned that if any educational institution fails to comply with the government’s SOPs, the concerned authorities would take strict action and that institution would be sealed forthwith.

                                  After the consensus with approval of the government, heads of all educational institutions and examination boards will be conveyed to reschedule examinations, till the end of this month; Ph.D. students will also be allowed to resume their research work at laboratories.

 Mr. Shafqat Mahmood has announced in his press conference that the decision of reopening schools and other institutions will be reviewed at the end of August or in the beginning of September; if the situation remains still unfavorable then, unfortunately, the educational institutions may not be allowed to reopen in that month. The federal government will designate the SOPs which the provincial governments may alter as per their situation and circumstances.

    

                                Due to the Novel coronavirus, our travailing education system has collapsed drastically, students have suffered a lot, and we have experienced historic educational loss. After losing this academic year owing to a long break from schools, students may not pass the board examination with flying colours as they used to pass before the outbreak of Covid-19, and there are chances of losing another year. Up to the elementary classes, the students have already been passed condonable this year.

                  

                                According to the British international organization “save the children”, following the Novel coronavirus pandemic global shutdown, more than 9.7 million children will not be able to go to schools again, the global economic recessionary period has affected the parents’ affordability to bear children’s academic expenditure, so this number might cross 100 million in the future. The same is the case with Pakistani children, a large number of poor students may face up such situations as well. To see the clear picture of the aftermath of Covid-19 regarding the loss of education, we have to wait until the schools are open again.

                          

                             WHO issued a report after undergoing a thorough study, that how the children are less affected by this pandemic. This report says that coronavirus has not spread much during classroom activities but it was observed that there has been some transmission when organizing the social events by the schools. In multiple countries, educational institutions were reopened in May and June.

                         

                             WHO warns that schools may be reopened following Covid-19 prevention strategies, the governments and administrations must frame risk assessment strategies. Below are some key factors to ensure before reopening the schools. 

• Schools are supposed to maintain the hand and respiratory hygiene, schools must have adequate resources to maintain the distancing and limiting the crowding.
• Larger space is required for desk-spacing in the classrooms.
• To prevent disease transmission, a school must have plenty of medical supplies and proper handwashing facilities.
• To look after the sick children, a nurse should be available during school hours.
• The number of students may be decreased in a classroom so that effective distancing SOP may be observed.
• In case of a shortage of space, students may be divided into groups to attend the classes on alternate days.
• Last but not the least; to wear a surgical mask and hand gloves is mandatory.

                               Pakistan educational ministry is also pondering over such mechanisms to ensure that schools comply with distancing SOPs, but it is also taking into consideration that instead of dividing students into groups, the schools should be scheduled to open on alternate days. The government is also working on the option of open space classrooms like in Finland. The education system of Finland has been the best in the world for years, open space seating is one of the unique features of its dynamic education system that should be adopted by our country as well, to provide children a safe and new learning environment.