Are we ruining an entire generation, ask education experts on issue of reopening schools

An educationist has suggested immediately bringing back teachers’ attendance to 100 per cent so that they can begin creative initiatives to ensure more engagement from students. Representation pic

With the demand to reopen schools gaining momentum, it is no longer a debate between school managements and parents, but a major topic of concern in current times. Expert educationists are throwing light on the serious impact on children's holistic development - academic, physical, mental, emotional as well as social growth. Demanding introspection, they are asking, are we ruining the next generation?

Elaborating on the loss for students, Fatema Agarkar, educationist and founder of ACE (Agarkar Centre of Excellence), said, "The online learning module was a good alternative but not an option to actual schooling. Not only is there a lack of literacy and numeracy skills among children today, there is also a huge impact on the mental health of children. With less social interaction, especially at younger ages, the children are exhibiting extreme behaviour. And how can learning happen if the child is not emotionally secure?"

Also read: Not opening schools due to festivals, fear of third wave: Maharashtra health officials

Fatema Agarkar, educationist and Pandurang Kengar, educationist

Another expert, Pandurang Kengar, threw light on a different perspective. "With online learning children have easy access to the internet which is a double-edged sword. Unsupervised access is leading to bigger issues in a child's life. In case of children from underprivileged backgrounds, free time without school and associated activities is leading to ill effects such as bad company, addictions, etc. It is time to introspect if we are ruining an entire generation."

Data speaks

More than 60,000 students in the city from over 6.5 lakh in total (including all schools) don't have access to online learning as per data collated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) earlier this year. As per a survey of out-of-school students launched by the state government's education department, Mumbai had the highest number of out-of-school students amid the pandemic. While 25,000 students have dropped out of schools amid pandemic, over 14,000 have moved out of Maharashtra in the same period.

Suggestions galore

Educationist Hemangi Joshi from Shikshan Hakka Mancha, suggests the importance of immediately bringing back teachers' attendance to 100 per cent so that they can begin creative initiatives to ensure more engagement from students. "It is almost 1.5 years with COVID and now there is no point in getting scared. We need to learn to deal with it, which starts from special training for it for teachers," said Joshi demanding that the Task Force explain its stand on why there is a blanket ban only on schools when other establishments are reopening. Jana Arogya Abhiyan - a collective of public health experts, has recently written to the task force challenging their stand.

Schools' speak

"The decision of reopening schools requires brainstorming from many aspects starting from educating parents. This is why no form of rules and regulations are going to work; but a detailed planning of individual reopening taking parents into confidence by addressing their concerns is needed," said Revathy Srinivasan, principal of Sulochanadevi Singhania School in Thane.

Swati Popat, president of the Early Childhood Association (ECA), said, "In other countries, schools never completely closed down but continued with a blended approach. We too can begin to work on models best suited to ensure less loss to our next generation." Popat was also part of the paediatrics association which prepared the guidelines for school reopening.

What parents think

All academics have underlined the importance of addressing parents' anxiety. "As a parent I am anxious to send my child to school, but it is not the same level of anxiety when my child goes to the play-area of a building. I have a sense of assurance that it is in my control," said Samir Karmarkar, a parent from Dahisar. Parents are aware of the troubles the closure of school is leading to. But the contradictory opinions from experts are adding to their confusion. "I would be the happiest if schools start. My child will be engaged in some productive activity. But with the task force's warning, the worry is here to stay," said Prachi Shah, a parent. But most parents are willing to have a dialogue with their kids' schools to ensure a safe atmosphere.