New Delhi, Aug 8: The risks of not reopening schools for much longer are “too serious to be ignored”, the parliamentary standing committee on education, women, children, youth and sports said this week.
In its report titled ‘Plans to bridge the learning gap caused due to school lockdown as well as review of online and offline instructions and exams and plans for reopening of schools’, the committee has noted that the closure of schools has not only impacted the social fabric of families in a negative manner, it has also increased involvement of children in household chores.
“The closure of schools for over a year has had a deep impact on the wellbeing of students, especially their mental health. The hazards of not opening the schools are too serious to be ignored. The confinement of young children within the four walls of the house, being unable to attend school, has altered the relationship between the parent and the children adversely,” the committee said.
It further pointed that school closure has also impacted the social fabric of the family in a negative manner and the present situation has exacerbated the learning crisis.
A set of guidelines was also suggested by the committee to reopen schools which includes highlighting vaccination programmes for eligible students, teachers and staff, holding classes on alternate days or in two shifts following safety protocols, conducting random RT-PCR tests among others.
“Each school should have at least two oxygen concentrators with trained personnel to address any eventuality and provide first aid till availability of outside medical help. Frequent surprise inspection of schools may be done by health inspectors and health workers to ensure strict adherence to hygiene and COVID protocols,” the panel said.
