Children Are Safer in Schools Than at Home: Expert Panel

BENGALURU: An expert panel headed by Dr Devi Shetty an eminent cardiac surgeon who is heading an expert panel formed to study whether schools in Karnataka should be resumed, has recommended for the reopening of school. The panel also suggested that the government should offer an insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh per student when schools open, which would reassure parents about the health care of students in case they get infected by COVID.

The report ruled out the possibility of schools becoming infection hubs and asserted that no such instances have been proved anywhere in the world. They believe that children are safer in schools than at home.

Speculations that children are likely to be affected more in the future ( Impending third wave) in the country turned out to be a false alarm. A Stanford University panel of experts also refuted this and said there was no scientific evidence to show that children would be disproportionately affected by the virus.

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, social workers, counsellors, and child advocates have raised an alarm that school closures have led to a surge in child abuse. Experts fear that this could lead to more accidents and injuries among children left alone at home. It also results in deeper economic woes for parents who are forced to quit their jobs or cut back on their working hours to stay with the children.

Meanwhile, WHO has announced a checklist to support the reopening of schools, which includes “38 essential actions to be considered by different stakeholders as they work together on school reopening plans”. Training of teachers, preparing parents to participate in safety measures, and motivating students to follow safety guidelines are integral components of the reopening regime recommended by the WHO.

Obviously, schools will have a much greater responsibility at hand. They need to guarantee enough safeguards such as face masks for teachers and staff, and children above 8 years, temperature testing, social distancing, decrease in classroom capacity, holding classes outdoors, regular virus testing, etc. Schools will have to invest money for several sanitary accessories, safety tools, and equipment, it stated in its report.  

We have to be aware of the long-term implications of school closure. The sad fact is that those who take decisions do not seem to give a thought to these realities. They are tempted to settle for the default option of keeping everything shut, including schools. It doesn’t require much thinking or effort to close schools, but a lot of planning and thinking to open schools. Perhaps that is exactly why the authorities defer a decision casually and indefinitely. The government should not dither anymore, like last year.  They need to act decisively on the panel’s recommendations - that schools be allowed to reopen in a phased manner, starting with senior classes. Eventually, all classes including Kindergartens can follow suit.

Parents should be reassured that all safety norms will be followed in schools and that their children will not only regain their learning rhythm but also remain cheerful and healthy.  The school has a perennial influence on children during their formative years. Opening schools needs care and caution but there is a lot to gain. Keeping schools closed causes substantial losses that are invisible but far-reaching. (Inputs from Deccan Herald)

The  Karnataka government from Monday has further eased restrictions under "Unlock 3.0" and life is slowly limping back to normalcy as shops, restaurants, malls, private offices, and religious places began their operations.

All public transport- buses and metro- were seen operating up to its seating capacity. These services will be available for the public till 9 PM, as the government is imposing a night curfew till 5 AM. Offices and business establishments have been allowed to function at full working strength leading to traffic congestion in Bengaluru and other cities with office-goers getting back to work.

Theatres, cinema halls, and pubs will remain closed, while swimming pools, sports complexes, and stadia are permitted for competitive training and practice purposes by strictly adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour. All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions, other gatherings, and large congregations, continue to be prohibited.

Theatres, cinema halls, and pubs will remain closed, while swimming pools, sports complexes, and stadia are permitted for competitive training and practice purposes by strictly adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour. All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions, other gatherings, and large congregations, continue to be prohibited.

Also Read: Karnataka Vaccination Centres Deny Covid Jabs for Women on Period