Schools reopen upon government orders. Certain things being common, reopening of schools is different from reopening an office for multiple reasons. Let’s see what they are and discuss about the timing of reopening and its methodology.

Offices have mature individuals who would follow the protocols set up by the office team, in addition to the government protocols. Schools, in contrast have children in varying stages of maturity and are unlikely to understand and follow the rules.

Moreover, not much is known about the next wave – when will it strike and how will it affect the population under 18 years of age.

Hence, schools must reopen if it is a government order, but robust arrangements must be made by the school authorities to prevent covid infections catching up amongst students, teachers, and other staff. What are they?

Robust arrangements done by the school in addition to government’s recommendations is to reassure parents and inspire confidence in the students to return to school.

Since the job of students is to study, it is safe to say that the students are engaged in an occupation of studying.

An additional advice from an expert in diseases of occupations can prove helpful. Hence, a support from an OH physician, who is an expert in diseases of occupations can be of reasonable value in reopening the schools.

The robust arrangements that the schools may make are:

  • vaccinate all staff – teachers, support staff etc.
  • improve toilet and handwashing facilities, and provide soap and tissue paper to wipe hands,
  • teach students to keep the toilet clean and dry,
  • keep windows open for proper ventilation,
  • get few students to schools initially or get a batch every alternate day so that physical distancing is achieved,
  • educate the children why it is still necessary to wear mask, maintain physical distance and frequently handwash,
  • to remove the mask only while eating, and not share food or water,
  • maintain distance even while eating food, playing or collaborating on a project,
  • encourage non-contact greeting – no handshake or hugs,
  • to not come to school if having flu like symptoms and inform class teacher about it,
  • etc.

The parents who are aware of the above enumerated points should also talk about it to their children when sending them to school in the middle of the pandemic.

Robust arrangements done by the school in addition to government’s recommendations is to reassure parents and inspire confidence in the students to return to school.

It is important for school authorities including teachers to realize that any laxity in observing the arrangements made can lead to spread of covid infection in the school premises. For example, the number of students a school can accommodate keeping in mind the physical distancing should be left to the school rather than be guided by a percentage number advocated by the government.

Schools must reopen as children from vulnerable socio-economic groups have been worst affected by the pandemic disruption. These children had limited or no access to online education and get no parental help in learning.

There are around 400 million children in India of which 193 million are in the age group 6 to 14 years and another 55 million from 15 to 18 years. It is difficult to guess how many of the 250 million children are students who continue to complete even 10-standard education due to socio-economic conditions prevailing over them.

Last but not the least, the school authorities should inform of any new case to the local administration and should not hesitate to close the school on their advice if number of new daily cases increase.

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