Why Should Opening Schools Be A Priority?

If there is one social institution that needs immediate reopening, it is the primary school. Our political authorities have discussed the relevance of opening the economy. However, have we considered the pandemic’s effect on the education sector? If yes, have we considered the role that schools play, not just academically but also when it comes to other social needs?

The Social Angle

Indeed, online learning cannot compare to the teacher-student interaction. Especially, for students in primary school, the physical presence of a classroom plays a crucial role in determining their comprehensive and analytical thinking. We all agree that education should be resumed as soon as possible.

However, we are also aware that while the risks of children contracting the virus might be low, the chance is always there. Then why are we emphasizing the need to open school with such urgency? It is because apart from being a center for learning, the school functions in meeting the daily needs of parent-adults.

The social functions of a school include:

• Full-day child care
• Distribution of meals to children
• Ensuring their safety and hygiene
• Sharing the burden of the parents

If primary schools open with due attention to the precautions and social-distancing norms, the nexus of responsibilities will be shared between the private home and the community sphere.

The pandemic has led to many unemployment issues along with salary decreases among many workers. The upper-class homes would find a way to cope with the burden of the pandemic. But, the middle-class and the economically-weaker classes would find it difficult to provide proper emotional and physical care to their young ones.

If schools are opened, the administration can take up the responsibility to distribute hygiene kits to children, providing them with daily necessities. They could also give the students an outlet to channel the energy that gets curtailed in a home where parents are already struggling with the effects of the economic downfall.

It is also important to take note that while some parents manage to take out time for paying attention to their children’s learning abilities, others might face some struggles. Hence, the schools have to come in the picture and take up the responsibility of providing knowledge and education so that their mental growth does not stop.

How Is It Possible?

It is under the state authorities to negotiate the best possible circumstances of opening schools. One of the problems that many people raise is that teachers or staff of a school are in the range of people who might be worst affected by COVID-19. So, even if the children are in the safe domain, how do we ensure that the teachers are safe too?

People think that the only means to ensure the safety of teachers is by ensuring social distancing among them and dividing time quarters for every staff member. Whether this solution will lead to productive results depends on its analysis by the school administration and medical counselors.

Education centers, with instructions from the state forces, should work in association with medical faculties to ensure maximum hygiene, social distancing, and cleanliness among children. The government should employ a body or an organization that keeps a check on the progress of schools. These bodies can support the working of the school administration. The solution is going to be layered and complex.

Perhaps, schools would face a need to install more hand-washing basins or they would have to try improving the infrastructure to broaden the size of the classroom. The pupil count has to decrease and the teachers will have to cancel the possibility of gathering such as assemblies, recess, etc.

Final Thoughts

It would be reductive to say that with precautions we can avoid all adversities. However, we cannot deny the need to take sensitive and cautious steps in trying to open schools. The constant covering of their mouths using face masks, carrying sanitizers, etc., are some efforts that can contribute to better safety. Our efforts will have to be more far-reaching and institutionalized. The reopening will demand more hard work than we can currently envisage.

Giving a direction to the idea of reopening schools is possible only if the state funds the process. We have to remember that the hardships will only increase if students remain stuck in their homes.

That is why policymakers, medical faculty, and education authorities have to make collective decisions. Through physical-distancing and social interaction, our society can move past the current situation.