SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Agnelo Pires
The podium finish race for a Covid-19 vaccine is gaining momentum. The fact remains that some of the nations are engaged in stealing the thunder from each other over the vaccine thereby establishing their supremacy in the field of medical arena. Though the Russian President declared that the magic bullet is ready, yet there seems to be not much taker due to its doubtful efficacy. Even the WHO is distancing itself from siding with Putin that their vaccine is safe.
Amidst the verbal consolation given by the PM Modi on the Independence Day, keeping all the Indians in the loop, that a vaccine is on the way, yet time seems to moving in a slow motion when everyone is waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. What is eluding is the fact that there is no time frame when a cure for Covid-19 will see the light of the day.
The effusive question that crops up now under such circumstances is that should the schools or the physical classrooms reopen in Goa in September in a staggered manner as advocated by HRD Ministry and the Goa government? When the Covid-19 positive cases graph in Goa as well as in India is showing an upward trend day by day, is it worthwhile to throw the future of children in the jaws of death and destruction? Should India follow the footsteps of some of the European countries like Switzerland which have opened their educational institutions? Ask the parents and the answer is a clear No!
It is opined that children do not have far greater risk if SOPs are strictly followed. This argument just does not hold any water. India is not Switzerland. Both the countries are as different as chalk and cheese. The corona virus positive cases are in a decline in Switzerland and everyone is strictly following the norms of social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing right from the beginning of the pandemic.
When it rains, it pours, as such the Goa government cannot throw caution to the wind by opening the schools before a cure for the virus is available. Children will be caught in a perfect storm in contracting the virus if schools are opened at this delicate time when the community transmission has become extravagantly demonstrative. Before a vaccine for the virus is out, no one is out of woods.
The parents are not ready to send their children to schools just yet. Most want a reduction in syllabus and online classes to continue. They also want the exams to be held online considering this year as a gap year so that no student will lose a year. For them, modified seating arrangements, masks, sanitisers, temperature checks does not mean whole nine yards. Their children lives mean everything for them. Skies will not fall if the schools are closed for a few more months. Opening the schools at this dreaded time of pandemic will be like opening a Pandora’s box. Its time to be on the side of the angels and learn from the pandemic that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Respected CM, the ball is in your court to do some magic and thereby put to rest the worries of the concerned parents.
