Paving the way forward: Strategies for successful reopening of HEIS
Dr. Ajeenkya DY Patil
With the vaccine rollout now well underway for India, it is time to invite students back to the physical classroom. I have so far maintained the importance of safety and wellbeing of our students, stressing on the greater need to harness the power of technology to keep our students well connected and supported in their learning journey under these extraordinary circumstances. I have stressed the importance of health over examinations and how the pandemic is truly the biggest test our students have had to take. But when we take stock of the past 15 months, there are factors that have undermined the purpose and end goal of this whole exercise of online learning. Schools and higher education institutions remained closed, even as hospitality and travel resumed. School-going children visited malls, ate out, travelled and resumed life outside school as normal. Which begs the question, is education the conveniently forgotten sector of our economy? If so, it will be our students who will bear the brunt of the pandemic; and borne hardest by the children who are already behind, and those that may not be able to have an Internet connection or parental support. There are undoubtedly plans for some states to resume schools in the coming weeks, but is there a reopening strategy in place across states and across boards to ensure a coordinated and concerted gameplan? I’m no clairvoyant but given the year we’ve had; how likely would it be that a few Covid positive cases in classrooms would again force the gates to close? Unfortunately, there isn’t one answer or solution to making educational institutions Covid-free zones, however taking a cue from the West, there needs to be a strong action plan, measures that go beyond wearing face masks and social distancing, and most importantly a Covid-positive contingency plan for institutions that is in-line with not just state, but country guidelines. Let’s have a look at a few ways that the education sector with the support of state, central governments and community leaders can start putting in place reopening strategy for schools to pave the way forward for stu
dents.
Creating a centralised reopening plan which can be customised
The central government should decide on a mutually agreedupon date to reopen educational institution in India. States and local government bodies must take the necessary steps and work towards that goal. If a state is in complete lockdown, then only must schools shut for the schools and it should be in sync with the rest of the sectors within that state. If a restaurant is allowed to allow school-going children through their doors, so must schools.
Vaccination for all
Before reopening schools, the government must ensure all teachers and faculty are fully vaccinated, and must prioritise them in the system. They must also allow for vulnerable and at-risk staff to continue to work from home, allocating the right resources to ensure their jobs are not at risk, but teaching continues with the right support staff.
Engaging the wider communities
Establishing trust among parents, students and the wider community is key. Individual institutions must engage teachers and teachers’ unions, internal management committees and parent organisations in the discussion of the reopening plans and take their suggestions on risk factors and decide how to mitigate them should situations arise. Research suggests that putting in place a strong communication strategy with multiple channels of messaging could help keep the community connected and informed.
Making school
environments safe
We need to ensure a complete overhaul, not just in cleaning and sanitising of schools, but the infrastructure within schools. Classrooms and playgrounds need to be re-examined to stop the spread of the virus.
Ensuring children have access to sanitisers and soap with increased handwashing stations in place; having a daily schoolbased screening for fever and other symptoms upon entry; staggered entry timings for each class; limit on all group activities that would involve inter-class mingling; and support to students who need extra care with hygiene and sanitation, are a few ways that go beyond the already established social distancing and face mask rules.
Covid-positive contingency plan
To my earlier point on how an increase in Covid cases must not equal a complete closure of schools, we must treat each reported case with a rapid response at a micro-controlled level. This would entail a strong and transparent reporting system that must be put in place including alerting parents of the class and related-sibling classes; an immediate and well-defined quarantine and testing plan before the class group is allowed to rejoin.
These are unprecedented times that require unprecedented measures but unless we start defining these measures, we will find it hard to resurface and come out of the other side stronger and more prepared for what the future holds.
It’s time to pave the way forward - let education not be forgotten, for the sake of our students.