One of the ways in which the coronavirus pandemic continues to leave a mark is through putting a dent on the future of our nation: Lockdowns have shut down schools, leading to children across the country unable to access the education they sorely need and deserve.
With this in mind, and the understanding that the presence of a vaccine will not magically make the pandemic go away -- by some estimates, it will take two to three years -- in addition to the fact that other means such as TV and radio have been mostly ineffective during the lockdown, it is imperative that we open up schools but, at the same time, keep the health of the children and their families in mind.
In this regard, the government’s plan to reopen schools by February 4 is commendable, especially considering that the Ministry of Education has sent out guidelines which need to be followed, such as the mandatory use of masks, different modes of teaching, and the monitoring of health of all concerned in the institution.
It is also encouraging to note that the number of students in classes has been considered. According to Education Minister Dipu Moni, initially, only regular classes of Class X and XII will be held while students from other grades will come by once a week and take their tasks home.
This is a reasonable approach to the situation, with the next step being to ensure that schools across the nation are maintaining the guidelines set forth by the Education Ministry and prioritizing the health of their students.
