Educationists join demand for reopening schools for all

Photo for representational purpose. Picture Courtesy/iStock

After parents, experts from the education sector have stepped in to add their voice to the demand of reopening schools for all ages across Maharashtra. Around 20 of them have written an open letter to School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad. It is being circulated among those in the field of education to garner more support.

"We are anyway not looking at converting to normalcy immediately, as we all know that it will take time. We propose that schools can begin in-person learning for younger ones with small duration sessions focused on their mental well-being. It is established by UNICEF that many young children are suffering from mental health issues. All other establishments such as shopping malls, restaurants and movie theatres among all have reopened which pose equal or in fact more serious threat of spread of infection, (SIC)" reads the letter which received 500 supporting signatures in just one day, which according to the writers indicates the majority public opinion.

Educationists speak

Educationist Hemangi Joshi from Shikshan Hakka Mancha, who is among those who has signed the letter, said, "What is the guarantee that soon COVID will be fully eradicated? Earlier there was delta, now it is omicron; this may go on. In this case, shouldn't the policy orient more towards how to live with it? Schools are also not able to take a strong stand as there is a clause in regulation that states, even if one COVID positive patient is found in the institute, it has to be entirely shut down. But this regulation is not for other establishments."

Adding to this, educationist Vasant Kalpande said, "In other countries reopening included younger classes, in fact they started with younger ones. Then why are we leaving young kids out? Not only primary sections, but even pre-primary sections should start. Schools are not only about academics but required for overall development. We need to learn to live with COVID if there is no prediction on its end."