Going back to school on a positive note

As the country begins its shift to normalcy, schools slowly begin to commence operations across Sri Lanka in stipulated stages. After being homebound for over 3 months, many consider the current practices to be the “new normal”, hence, picking up from where you’ve left off would be considered a challenge.

For the past few months, avenues of education took place via virtual platforms. Limiting student interactions and activities as much as possible. Students were isolated to their homes for the most part and were required to go through the learning experience all on their own with virtual assistance. Reactive measures were taken across the Sri Lankan education sector as such technological enhancements were not be found within a majority of the business models.

What will be different?

There are many aspects which will be conducted differently as it commences. School does not only encompass a set of subjects for a student to learn, a school provides a whole other experience apart from the sole focus on subjects.

Activities and events held within school will temporarily be on hold, which means participation in sports, extra- curricular activities and events held at school will take place differently. Intervals and gatherings (assemblies) will be held with accordance to guidelines set by the government to ensure unnecessary contact is not encountered with. Seating arrangements are bound to be different, they will be distanced and enclosed for safety reasons.

A student’s take on the matters

As per the discussions had with a few students on their take on the matters, students are more aware of the current health risks as it has been vastly communicated. There are students who are eager to go back to school but are conflicted as it may cause a spike in the existing risks.

Regardless of their conflict of interest, the homestay has been long enough for them to want to go back to their old routines at school. Certain students went onto explain how they’d like to take part in sports and extra- curricular activities as they did before. Interacting with their friends in person instead of utilizing virtual settings.

E-Learning platforms were developed within schools as reactive approaches to the current state of affairs, hence, the effectiveness of the learning experience is low as opposed to convectional teaching methods. This is a foreign concept to students and involves a larger proportion to self- study, this practice may not effectively work with students. The systems may not function properly or carry sufficient material for the transfer of knowledge.

What to look upon?

Despite the given setbacks, it is important to consider going back to school as a way forward to come out of this current situation; this initiative will help refresh a student’s mindset.

Since most of the other extracurricular activities are restricted, this gives students ample time to focus solely on their studies. Instead of studying from home, physically going to school will change their mindset and put them in a better learning environment.

The learning experience a student gains by going back to school whilst coming out of a pandemic will be the first of its kind. There has not been a crisis of this magnitude before. Taking this initiative will give the student a first-hand experience on conquering a mindset which has not been faced with before. Improving one’s ability to overcome fickle situations.

The schooling era which students are stepping into will be very different to what was dealt with in the past. It gives the students a chance to write their learning experiences similar to how parents share their tales of schooling.

As quoted by Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Going back to school whilst stepping out of a pandemic is both a mental and physical challenge which is dealt with differently by each person. However, it is important that a student does not let their education go off track and stop them from being the best version of themselves.

Tashiya Weeraratne