Features
Reflections on re-opening our schools amidst Covid-19 crisis
Dr B. J. C. Perera
Specialist Consultant
Paediatrician
Yet for all this, we have seen large numbers of our schools, the fountains of knowledge, being closed for very many reasons in the not-too-distant past. These have included many types of natural disasters, popular uprisings, work stoppages, insurrections and even armed conflicts. However, the most important of all these causes of school closures is the current COVID-19 pandemic. Our schools have been kept closed for the very large part of the past year. Although many an admirable effort has been made to carry on with some educational pursuits through various types of electronic media, it has not been possible for them to be presented equally and equitably to all because of very many social and monetary constraints. In addition, proper education is not only the gathering of knowledge but also other societal pursuits like companionship, friendship, empathetic behaviour, healthy competition, sporting endeavours, arguments, disagreements and even tolerance, just to mention a few. Most of these latter pursuits could only be accomplished through in-person attendance at educational institutions. These are equally important in formulation of a balanced and well-rounded individual when the time comes for the children to be released into the precincts of the general adult society.
In a game-changing endeavour, the schools in certain parts of Sri Lanka are scheduled to open very soon and it is envisaged that it would be possible to open the schools in other areas too in the future months. The education authorities have planned to implement a staged-approach to the task of opening of schools and gradually get back to some sort of normalcy. It would provide a level playing field for the education facilities for the children of our land. However, in that venture we have to inevitably look at very many aspects to ensure that the situation would remain a safe undertaking, not only for the school-going children, but also for everybody involved in the field of education as well as those in their own home fronts.
There is no doubt at all that the health guidelines that are advocated for the general population have to be strictly complied with, inside and outside of all schools that would be reopened. Repeated pronouncements on the importance of washing hands frequently and regularly, keeping a physical distance of at least one metre with other children inside the classrooms and in the compound of the school and the crucial need to wear face coverings or masks, should be like powerful ‘mantras’ that should take pride of place amongst all regulations that have to be followed within schools. The children have to be specifically advised on proper behaviour patterns to be observed in schools to try and prevent them contracting the disease. Simple things like not sharing instruments, pens and pencils, not sharing food articles, utensils and cutlery as well as scrupulous avoidance of very close contact, are essential manoeuvres in this venture. In addition, proper ventilation of classrooms, disinfection of premises whenever indicated or required, and even the feasibility of conducting some educational activities in open-air environments are some other activities that would augment the safety standards that need to be maintained in the educational settings.
If we reflect back and think of the times before the current school closures, we do have to admit that implementation of hygienic practices and even COVID-19 preventive measures were initially rather poor in schools. This unfortunate situation was noticed not only among students but also among teachers and other staff members of schools as well. Mixed messages which were given to the public by several national and international agencies, especially on face masks, was one of the reasons for that occurrence. Although, these heath measures have been legalized at present, due to obvious reasons, it is not practical nor desirable to implement even vaguely punitive measures in the case of children. Therefore, emphasizing the regular adherence to COVID-19 preventive healthcare measures at all times and role-modelling by teachers, school staff personnel, parents and all adults by practicing these measures needs to be clearly highlighted.
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education should provide very clear guidelines on these measures, including proper usage of face masks. No child with any sort of an acute illness, accompanied by fever or a cough or cold should attend any school activities. Yet for all that, one must always keep in mind the caveat that a very large percentage of children, who are infected with the virus are completely symptom-free. The safest axiom to follow is to assume that all of them are potential carriers of this nasty virus. The School Canteen facilities need to be controlled and streamlined. In fact, it would be best for the children to bring their food and water from home.
Children are great and enthusistic learners and they are also extremely good at following certain guidelines if they could be convinced of their benefits. In that respect, they are much better than grown-ups. This can only be achieved by instructing and educating them on the benefits of the health measures. It is just by converting their mind-sets on to a positive framework, by convincing them, by securing their cooperation by empowerment and inculcating a sense of collective responsibility in them, that we would be able to achieve our objectives of making it safer for the children. It is certainly not something that could be usefully secured through coercion or by castigatory disciplinary measures.
It is also essential to look at transport, to and from the schools. Only a small percentage of schoolchildren would have their own private transport facilities. The vast majority has to depend on private or public mass transport facilities such as vans, buses and trains. As we have seen in the past, long before the arrival of the coronavirus, overcrowding and definitely undesirable behaviour patterns in a pandemic situation, were rampant in these transport modalities. It would be an extremely difficult endeavour to try and control these phenomena but then it is the duty of all of us, including the responsible authorities concerned, to try the very best to mitigate these occurrences.
Well., how about giving the vaccine to children? The problem is that none of the currently available vaccines have so far been tried out in research studies involving children. Some researchers are just starting to do some scientific work on the efficacy and side-effect profile of a couple of the vaccines in children. Till such time as to when these become available, we should not even think of the possibility of immunising the children against COVID-19. If I am to hazard a guess, it is most unlikely that we would have tangible and reliable answers to that question, at least for another year or so.
This author is so passionately interested in safe education for our children because of the fact that the free education system of our resplendent isle has given him the breaks that made him to be what he is today. Our countrymen and countrywomen financed and sponsored his entire education, right up to the postgraduate level. He is not likely to forget that – never ever. The author would like to see the very same opportunities being extended to all the children of our Motherland. In such a context, it is vital that we take all necessary steps to jump-start all educational processes, starting with the re-opening of our schools, with adequate precautions being taken to make it as safe as humanly and humanely possible.