Regarding the pandemic horrors of almost 17 months in India, we generally discuss the economy and growth rate, loss of life, jobs and livelihoods, the worst affected sectors, the lack of significant financial relief from the government. and other topics. TV channels regularly show how movie stars and other celebrities are doing and how sports activities should be restarted. Only occasionally do we discuss how students incarcerated at home are dealing with the crisis; We don’t care how they are doing either, we just chat with the same education experts or teachers about basically the same points repeated over and over again. Then there are the raging debates about taking various types of exams at relevant times. However, in recent weeks discussions have resumed over taking the 10th and 12th class final exams, ultimately ending with all states deciding to declare results without taking exams and based on online tests and general assessment. two years, but almost none. Discussions are taking place about how students in vast rural areas are getting by without having access to digital devices and internet connections. And now, there are debates about reopening schools, particularly elementary schools, as the situation appears to be improving in several states. More than 12 upper classes are only partially held in some states, although that is subject to parental consent letters.
We salute the millions of parents for managing their children within the four walls doing their best to keep them mentally stable, providing them time and facilities, feeding them well, and allowing them occasional recreational activities whenever the respective colonies and societies ease walking restrictions. , biking and playing on campus or in parks depending on the infection situation. The loss suffered by students is enormous, considering their isolation, lack of personal interaction with friends and teachers, and an almost bleak future looming regarding their future admissions and educational options and activities. With all of these factors in mind, schools need to reopen as soon as possible, and some states are actively thinking about relying on parents for this.
However, the majority of parents, according to a survey, almost 48% of them, are still opposed to sending their children to schools, without being at all sure about the protective measures that the respective schools are supposed to take. They are fully justified for the following reasons: the experts themselves say that living with young people aged 10 to 17 is a risky proposition, because they have to leave home for some activity or work and if they contract the virus and bring it home, it is most likely it is that he recovers quite easily, but the elderly will be at serious risk; the much feared third wave of COVID-19 is coming at any moment and many experts say it will affect children significantly; vaccination is being carried out only for students over 18 years of age, and the vaccination campaign has stalled due to the obvious shortage of doses despite repeated denials from the government, we are forced to witness an unprecedented rush and even fisticuffs by limited and partially operational vaccination centers throughout the country; and vaccination of children up to 17 years of age has yet to be announced despite the government’s claim that various vaccines are being prepared for them.
At this crucial juncture, parents’ concerns must be respected. All students, starting at the kindergarten level, must be fully vaccinated and the third wave must be prevented or well addressed before schools reopen, and in the meantime, online classes must continue. Some educators have suggested various measures, such as dividing a class into groups to take classes at different times, since most teachers have to attend schools every day, and claim that if there are gyms, bars and restaurants, classrooms movie theaters, markets, public transportation (only partially in most states) and offices can reopen, why not schools. But who can be trusted to coin a foolproof plan that benefits all students, and who will be held accountable if some get the now-dominant Delta variant and bring it home? Parents are not convinced, neither are we.
In the meantime, effective measures other than immediate reopening of schools can be considered. Educational institutions or agencies, government organizations, news channels and NGOs should conduct surveys and studies to assess students’ mental health, provide avenues for online entertainment and interaction, organize online multipurpose conferences in the region and highlight all significant experiments or experiments. Extracurricular work performed or accomplished by incarcerated students at home in their spare time. This is an extremely worrying topic and all the best brains in the country must commit to finding solutions. This is not only the gravest crisis of the century facing students, but also for the future of the country, which looks bleak even in another way.