Any government that cares for its youth must not close the schools or educational institutions under any circumstances. Noted education expert and technology leader Kiran Karnik in an article in The Economic Times on January 24 rightly pointed out that – schools must be closed last and opened first – in current times.
Already, our children around 12- 15 crore in the country have lost two years – 2020 and 2021 – and now are going to lose another year, if governments choose to shut schools till summer holidays or till the Covid pandemic disappears completely. This will be a huge loss to the students – 1 to 12 class, especially, and higher classes in general.
We all know, poorer sections of students depend on mid-day meals and hostel facilities for their studies. Our authorities are denying both the facilities to students in the name of pandemic. Online learning is a poor substitute for a physical classroom. Online teaching can’t ensure attendance of students, which is important to effective education.
Naturally, government teachers prefer closure of schools and colleges, because their salaries are guaranteed. But, in the private sector, teachers are denied salaries for the period of closure and there is no motivation for them to teach online. Most states have shut schools and colleges till Jan 30. The holidays should not be extended.
Governments can take up intensive vaccination to all students and teachers, if any are left out and keep medical teams available to the educational institutions, in case of any emergency. It’s proved that compared to the older people, youngsters enjoy greater immunity and can face Covid. It’s unfair to keep our students without education for the sake of some old and vulnerable people.
