The monsoons have commenced with great enthusiasm. Roads are flooded and traffic jams are now a common sight. And yes, the seasonal illnesses are doing their bit to make life miserable for everyone. For school children, it can be a tough time. All of them are back in school after two years, thanks to the virus. Two years in front of a laptop or computer can certainly have an effect on young people. Now sitting in a classroom with other students who may or may not be carrying some virus unknowingly could be a recipe
for disaster.
Ugali Parag Naik, a teacher at the Keshav Smruti High School based at Dabolim, said this weather meant cold, cough and viral fever were common amongst students. She said “We request the parents to not send their kids to school if they are sick. We don’t want it to spread amongst other students in the school. If a student displays symptoms consistent with flu or other illnesses; we keep the students separate and call their parents. We are very careful. Better safe than sorry.”
Amit of the Bharitya Vidya Bhavan said there were some illnesses which were common to the season. He said “It is not uncommon to find students suffering from the common cold or fever. Our teachers usually advise the parents to keep their children at home if they display these symptoms. If the symptoms persist for more than two days, we then advise them to conduct a test”. Asked if they were offering students the option of attending class online, he said the class was now only available offline and students would have to return to school after they regained their health and catch up with their studies.
For some schools like Sarvodaya Educational Society, the health of students was a matter of concern. Reshma Sheth, a teacher, said “Around six to seven students in each class were sick and the school has not enjoyed a hundred percent attendance in a while”. She said, “The change in weather had certainly affected the health of the students.” Asked if the school was offering the option of online classes, she said, “Many of the students were living in the remote corners of Goa and it would be difficult for students to access the classes”. She further said, “We feel they will be able to catch up with the classes after being away for a day or two. We take all the efforts from our end to ensure no
one suffers.”
For personnel of the Progress High School, the monsoons were a time to ensure students did not fall ill. An employee who did not wish to give his name said, “We have two or three students who are absent in each and every class. Classes are conducted offline and we cannot make facilities to go online for two or three students in each class. If a student falls ill in class, we contact their parents and ensure they are taken home. We are careful and ensure everyone’s health is not placed in danger.”
In a statement released by The Gera School, they revealed all the systems were followed in case a student fell ill. He or she, it revealed, would be isolated and would be allowed to return only after the student was cleared medically. The student would be required to catch up with the studies on their return to class because the school did not provide instruction in a hybrid format.
It is obvious it is important to take care in these times because the monsoon brings its own complications and after the trials and tribulations of the past two years it makes more sense to
be cautious.
