On School Re-Opening: Calculated Decision Time

After the Union Ministry of Home Affairs extended the guidelines for reopening of schools and colleges in the country till November end, permitting individual states to reopen educational institutions in phases after October 15, the question of whether or not traditional classroom learning should resume became a hot topic for debate. Some states like Andhra Pradesh and Assam have allowed schools to resume classes while others are still undecided. But then, Central government’s guideline says that states must not enforce attendance and must depend entirely on parental consent. It also stated online classes should be made available for those who choose not to go back to school. Like most states, Nagaland government had allowed schools to resume classroom learning for classes 9 to 12 on voluntary basis in September but students of lower classes are yet to return to their schools. It said that a final call will be taken after the state’s Education department prepares and submits a concrete proposal concerning reopening of educational institutions. Its counterparts are also expected to take a decision on this pressing issue in the coming weeks.

Here, the states should take a calculated decision after consulting with health experts and the public, and not be driven by emotions. Many could be running out of patience as schools across the country have been closed even before the coronavirus-induced lockdown was imposed in March this year. Students have lost more than seven months of learning and it is a long time. However, reopening of schools could increase the risk of exposing more people to the disease. It is reported that as many as 262 students and 160 teachers were tested positive for coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh during the past three days after the state allowed schools to reopen on November 2. This sends out a clear message about the possibility of a spike in Covid cases if traditional classroom learning resumes. This is why most countries around the world are undecided on reopening of schools. Young people are believed to be less susceptible to the virus but parents may not want their children to be exposed to it. Moreover, they could become super spreaders of the disease and infect the old and vulnerable people. This could pose a huge risk and it will be costly. The harm could outweigh the benefits.

While a consensus has not been reached on whether or not schools and educational institutions should resume classes, everybody will agree on the need to take preventive measures like avoiding big gatherings, maintaining hygiene and wearing of face mask to flatten the spread of the pandemic. Some may say schools can be opened by ensuring students follow all the safety measures, but making children do so is easier said than done when even adults are found disregarding the rules laid down by the governments. There are also possibilities of the public turning complacent over the assumption that the virus could have crossed its infection peak. Silent virus carriers via young people combined with complacency can prove fatal. Any decision must be made with utmost care.