SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Agnelo Pires
The decision to reopen the schools in an offline mode at this time of juncture seems to be painted with a broad brush. On one side of the coin there is a fear of knowledge gap due to online education and the other side is overshadowed by a cloud of uncertainty and fear of infection due to Covid-19. There is no denying the fact that a hasty decision to reopen the schools albeit in a staggered manner may trigger untold regrets later as unvaccinated children and vaccinated people are still not out of woods.
It is certainly not enough that the teachers and the school staff is vaccinated as the vaccination itself is not a cent per cent proof of safety against the deadly virus. It is equally important that children are also vaccinated and safely anchored as they are more prone to catch the infection and spread it. A couple of days back a Bangalore school had to be closed because over 90 students were infected with the virus. Such incidents have also surfaced from Maharashtra and many other states.
As Covid-19 introduced chapters of a new normal, the transition of knowledge from the mature minds to the tender minds have suffered irreparable and irremediable damage. With mobiles and the laptops as their sole companions during the pandemic it is but natural that the children are eagerly looking forward to embrace the spring days of laughter with friends and the company of their teachers. But are the skies clear of dark clouds that have been hanging impatiently and carnivorously for the past over eighteen months?
There could be many implications if offline classes are held at a time when the coast is still not clear. Not only it would be a problem for the children to follow all the safety norms but the factors like transport, unmasking the faces to drink water or have snacks could be seriously dangerous as the virus is airborne. Keeping the mask on for long period of time could pose serious breathing problems for the children. Their tendency of mixing up with each other cannot also be ruled out as well. These areas need in-depth introspection to avoid crying over spilt milk.
Some of the advanced countries have already started vaccinating children so that a healthy school life can flourish once again. Those western countries where schools were reopened had to be shut down due to increasing infections. Back home, Goa is still not displaying a rosy picture so far as the Covid-19 positive cases are concerned. Tourism, casinos and free flow of people from the bordering states raises alarm bells. People throwing caution to the winds can be seen in every nook and corner of the state, be it in public transport areas, markets, malls or government offices.
Government should have made efforts in consultations with the centre about the urgency of inoculating the children before taking steps to reopen the schools. This is first and foremost safety net which should be the first priority. Undoubtedly the results will be futile if the cart is put before the horse. And even if the schools are reopened then alternate days classes for not more than three hours will be right and just. At the same time online classes should continue. Eventually the ball of decision should lie in the parent’s court to send their children to schools or not.
The fear and uncertainty that the Covid-19 situation unleashed on the entire world has still not turned into water under the bridge. Increasing cases of infections are raising red flags day in and day out. We are facing a world where there is a little sunshine one day and torrential rains the other. A war against a deadly virus like Covid-19 can be won not with an egoistic hasty decisions but by drawing a clear-cut, well planned map to keep all the citizens safe and healthy.
