The long wait of students, parents and teachers for schools to reopen is finally over with several states resuming physical schooling from Monday November 1, 2021. Students, especially those in smaller classes, are excited to meet their teachers and friends, and catch up with their favourite games.
Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are opening the school gates for students from 1st class, while West Bengal will start classes only from November 15. Some states, such as Karnataka, have already started classes for all students.
With notable improvement in the pandemic situation and weakening of the virus spread, there is less fear in the air this time around. While parents are relieved that their wards will at last be able to make up for the deficiencies of online learning, teachers are equally happy that they can now go back to the tried and tested method of in-person teaching.
Is it safe to send young students to school?
That’s the obvious question on everyone’s lips. That there is no vaccine yet for small children complicate matters. In such a situation, is it wise to send young children to schools? Will there be a third wave?
Experts say such fears are invalid. For one, children have been found to be less prone to catching the virus and studies have shown that small children have higher immunity to the novel coronavirus. Also, the chances of students catching the virus are less because parents and schools have been strictly advised to take all precautions such as insisting on wearing masks and using sanitisers, besides adhering to the standard Covid protocols such as social distancing. In any case, the school re-opening is planned in such as a way that there will be less crowding of students at any given time. Also, the government has repeatedly said that the country is well prepared for any eventuality.
The picture will be clearer in the coming days with more schools reopening and more children starting to attend classes.
Watch this space!