Teachers anticipate issues if schools do not open in September, but current situation not ideal

The decision on whether schools should reopen has been topic of much debate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta. With September just around the corner and with Malta’s COVID-19 r-factor per capita being one of the highest in Europe, students, teachers and parents alike are questioning this notion even further.

Notably, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Education Minister Owen Bonnici have insisted that schools should reopen for the coming scholastic year, with the latter confirming that they are set to open on 28 September.

While speaking to this newsroom, Bonnici said that this applies to all schools catering for those who are 16 years old and younger. Other institutions with older students were left to decide on their own; the University of Malta, G.F. Junior College, The Institute for Tourism Studies and MCAST all plan to open at the start of the scholastic year.

A number of primary and secondary state schoolteachers spoke with The Malta Independent on Sunday under condition of anonymity and shared their thoughts about schools reopening in September.

Do you agree that schools should reopen this September? What are the pros and cons?

All educators shared the same wish of physically returning back to school as they understand the importance of building a bond with the students that cannot be achieved over a video call while practicing online teaching and learning.

One of the teachers went on to say that virtual education will be a different and even more challenging situation this time round. While, previously, teachers already knew their pupils well, if the scholastic year starts virtually, they would be presented with a new group of students, but they would just be names on the class list.

“I wouldn’t be able to match the name to a face, I wouldn’t know the characters, the likes and dislikes, their hobbies, etc. Thus, this would make virtual teaching and learning more challenging than last scholastic year,” the teacher said, showing that she would prefer to meet the new students in person.

However, these teachers also understand that the current situation is not ideal, considering the infection rate being so high.

“There are a multitude of things that I’m concerned about: say one of my students or their family members contracts COVID. Who will need to be quarantined? What about the other students and their families? What about all of the teachers who came into contact with that class? What about teachers sharing the same staffroom? What changes in class sizes for the coming academic year? Have any of these issues actually been discussed and evaluated? It would be a great shame if this situation were to be rushed!” one teacher expressed.

One primary school teacher explained that in primary education it is difficult to keep the virus from spreading as young children pick their nose and sneeze without covering their mouth, even when reminded numerous times. Additionally, they are less likely to understand the situation and respect social distancing regulations.

This concern considers not only the safety of the students but also the assurance that teachers are well enough to deliver lessons, “something which teachers compromise immensely on, fearing that they won’t be able to catch up on the syllabus.”

On a different note, one teacher underlined the fact that this year everything depends on health authorities’ directives, saying that Malta is used to politicise everything so much that a section of the population has not realised that this is a pandemic hence an international situation.

“This is not an issue of wanting to open schools as if they were closed on a whim but if it is safe to do so or not.”

What needs to be done, in your opinion?

The majority of the teachers who spoke to this newsroom believe that the government and all entities involved in making this decision should consult with educators so that they can evaluate the opinions of those who have first-hand knowledge and experience of being in a classroom.

Parents should also be consulted to ensure that both parties are happy and feel safe with the way forward as all possible options – a virtual school year, a normal physical school year or a balance of both – have their advantages and disadvantages.

One teacher drew a line of caution on conducting both online teaching and classroom teaching simultaneously.

“This kind of teaching creates a situation where a number of adults are following what is happening in the classroom online. This could breach the pupils’ privacy in the classroom. Let’s say a pupil in the classroom has a meltdown than it is followed by a reaction from adults outside the classroom. Even if an educator needs to correct a particular behaviour, this has to be done with adults who might take the situation out of its context. I am afraid that this will result in misinterpretations of harmless situations and conflict. If we are to teach half the pupils on alternate days than this should be supplemented with recorded lessons.”

Another element is the need for those in charge of making decisions to consider that some schools are smaller than others, so social distancing rules must vary accordingly.

Having said all this, every teacher speaking to this newsroom understands that the important thing is to find the safest way to resume teaching and support pupils’ learning.

What do you think about the Education Minister’s emphasis on the fact that there have been no transmissions in Skolasajf establishments as a reason to not worry about spreading the virus in schools?

Education Minister Bonnici has repeatedly mentioned that the lack of transmissions in Skolasajf establishments shows that there is nothing to fear about the reopening of schools in September.

“While it is good news that such has not happened yet, it wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, be enough to assure parents, teachers and students that the situation is under control and that they do not need to worry about the spread of the virus,” one of the teachers said.

Similar points were made by others who feel that Bonnici’s statement is a half-truth, as teachers and families have had to quarantine and not go to work due to cases in the school (them being teachers, cleaners or students). Thus, if schools do open and the same situation happens, many more families will have to quarantine. The statement is also a halftruth because it is only lulling the concerns of others, as Bonnici did not mention what actually happened to ensure no transmission occurred in Skolasajf.

Additionally, one has to keep in mind that a much larger number of pupils and educators are involved in schools during the scholastic year.

What is your opinion on Bonnici saying that he is mostly vouching for the reopening of schools that teach students aged less than 16 years, while those teaching students over 16 years can decide for themselves?

“From the point of view of a primary teacher I believe that during these years teaching in the classroom is the most effective form. During later stages, when pupils are older, they have the skills and maturity to be more able to pursue their education online and independently, without needing the continuous support of an adult,” one teacher said.

However, others would like to see a more equal playing field, saying that the students should be given the choice on what they feel most comfortable, or at least given an opportunity to voice their opinion.

This would ensure that the best compromise is reached, where the majority of students and lecturers feel the safest and would be the happiest, as should be for institutions for students under the age of 16. Giving primary and secondary schools the same freedom of choice would also be beneficial for vulnerable students who need to be careful of their surroundings.