HIGHLIGHTS
• Schools are reopening in phases in various states in India.
• As Covid-19 lockdown eases, all precautions must be taken for teacher and student safety
• Here are important steps schools should take as they slowly reopen.
One of the foremost critical aspects of this pandemic has been the choices to enter each and each unlocks phase. As we move forward to slowly opening up the economy, those most in danger, are yet advised to remain back patiently until all safety and precautionary steps are undertaken. Among these include senior citizens and youngsters. Although children are showing better signs of recovery or resistance to the pandemic, the fear of youngsters contracting the virus isn’t something that’s or should be handled lightly.
That being said, we are almost through with 2020 and half a year of the regular schooling period. Although schools, institutions, and universities were quick in adapting to the new norms of online learning, a recent study by the Azim Premji University found that oldsters are hospitable sending their children to high school as online learning isn’t as effective as in-school learning.
In fact, parents were vocal about the concerns by expressing that ‘issues of access also as learning difficulties with the web mode is hampering the education of the many students. The study also highlighted that thanks to lack of accessibility, several children are yet not receiving any learning through digital means. For a school, work doesn’t begin and end at teaching a toddler. There are several other factors to think about while re-opening a school.
Schools got to assess the feasibility of opening schools by evaluating the security and precautionary measures with reference to children, teachers, supporting staff, and infrastructure.
1. Ensure safety and hygiene of the building
The first step would be to debate with the local health authorities about the security of the varsity building and surroundings. this is able to be essential to curbing contagion from the communities, which suggests communities would wish to require additional efforts to make sure movement around the school building is administered safely. Schools also will get to perform fumigation altogether areas of the building especially within the classrooms, playgrounds, common areas, washrooms, cafeteria, teacher office spaces, etc.
2. Train school staff for extra responsibilities
Teachers and school staff being one among the foremost important aspects of school faculty and learning will have the extra responsibility of managing the security of youngsters additionally to managing their learning. Teachers in classrooms and support staff in common areas will now need to make sure that when the varsity opens, its students follow all safety protocols.
Furthermore, the staff would also get to be prepared in crisis and situation management, to be ready to effectively confront and manage each and each situation that would occur, as children by themselves might not be maturely equipped to affect any problems.
3. Recommended school reopening protocols
After preparing a secure building for school kids to return back to schools, some standard operating procedures will need to be set and implemented, such as:
• Mandatory campus sanitization
• Vitamins and minerals consumption
• Conducting classrooms in a staggered manner
• Thermal scanning (at intervals)
• Address students
• Wearing mask and gloves compulsory
• Installation of hand sanitizer pump
• Discourage sharing of essential resources — provision of faculty essential materials is advisable
4. Activities in class must be managed efficiently
Schools offering transport services must make sure that social distancing is followed within the buses. a perfect practice would be to scale back the number of riders in each vehicle and increase the frequency of travel. Proper distancing must be maintained, wherein every alternate seat must be crossed off to point that students must not sit together. Schools offering food and beverage services must also follow an identical practice of daily cleaning and sanitation alongside physical distancing by crossing off alternate seats. If allowed to play outside on the playground, students must not move around and have interaction in larger groups, assigning small groups can help manage this activity smoothly.
5. Emergency plans and protocols must be a priority
Schools alongside parents and native authorities should effectively plan and be prepared to mitigate any crisis. Everyone around a toddler, parents, teachers, support staff, neighbors, other students can contract COVID-19. Self-observation and for youngsters is mandatory. If anyone around students is tested positive, they ought to immediately inform the varsity in order that preventive measures are often implemented. Local authorities, schools, and fogeys must be vigilant and constantly keep a watch on news regarding rising cases in their locality to exercise caution.
6. Provide ample support to students
This is a difficult time for everybody and particularly these children as many might not understand or would be quick to grasp things, assess the repercussions of their actions. As their support, it’s our duty and responsibility to teach them and increase awareness about the present situation and assist them with best practices.
This is a difficult time for everybody and particularly these children as many might not understand or would be quick to grasp things, assess the repercussions of their actions. As their support, it’s our duty and responsibility to teach them and increase awareness about the present situation and assist them with best practices.
