Daily Times

Whenever the government decides to reopen schools, which is very much its prerogative, it must at least make sure that it communicates what it is thinking about the matter and how it is judging it with parents at all times. First the government decided to go ahead with the reopening in mid-September, but said that the final decision would be taken on September 7. Then the prime minister, as if taking the final decision away from the education ministry, said just a few days ago that schools would definitely open across the country on September 15 and asked all provinces to make necessary arrangements. Now, it is being heard, that the education ministry is pushing the date ahead to sometime in October on the advice of the health ministry, that too if things are fine at that time.

While there should be no two views about protecting everybody from the spread of the coronavirus, especially our precious children, it must also be said that such decisions need very careful deliberation and must not be taken at the drop of a hat. The same situation, and pretty much the same advice from health professionals, did not prevent the government from opening up the rest of the economy, and the matter of schools for better or for worse also affects the way a large number of professionals are able to attend to their regular jobs. In times when the more fortunate students are able to continue their school through remote education over the internet, at least one of the parents has to sit down with them and do half if not all the teacher’s job. That, of course, is the textbook nightmare scenario for working couples, where at least one’s work is compromised at a time when the job market is already stressed and people are bending over backwards to keep their employment and incomes.

Then there is also the point of view of the schools. Surely if things remain depressed for too long they would be forced to cut costs by relieving their teachers and other staff. That makes it something of a problem when the government does deem it fit to open all the schools. How would they be expected to suddenly function at full capacity? Since there is no telling yet when the world would be rid of Covid-19, and there’s only so long schools can remain closed while other businesses reopen, perhaps it is time for the government to think about safety protocols that would make it safe to open schools in phases. *