News Desk :
Safir had just begun pre-school this year after getting admitted to Charupath Hatekhori School in Mirpur. But before he could befriend his peers or make an impression on teachers, he found himself homebound as the coronavirus pandemic reared its head, reports bdnews24.com
While his mother was initially able to mollify him, it became increasingly difficult to make him understand the gravity of the situation as the days turned to months.
As the pandemic rages on, children like Safir are growing more restless as they remain confined within the four walls of their homes.
The situation, which is far from normal, could hamper the overall development of children, according to psychologists and educationists.
In a new report, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned the impact of the global COVID-19 crisis on children extends far beyond
the spheres of their physical health and could be lifelong. It revealed the pandemic was having profound effects on children’s mental health, social development, safety, privacy, economic security and beyond. Experts have urged parents to be more attentive to their children’s needs to help them navigate these challenging times.
Bangladesh reported its first cases of novel coronavirus in March. Shortly afterwards, schools and educational institutions across the country were shut down in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
Even as many countries around are sending their children back to school, Bangladesh is yet to finalise its plans on reopening educational institutions.
Different institutions in Dhaka are trying to continue the learning process through online classes but both the children and their parents are unaccustomed to it.
Safin has to attend online classes for an hour for six days a week, according to his mother Shahrin Bushra. But it becomes very difficult to make him sit through these classes, she said.
“Earlier it was okay. But now I have to force him to attend the online class. He wants to go back to school and be with his friends.” To placate the child, Shahrin took him to his closed school twice.
“Children differ from each other. Earlier, he would prepare for his lessons at home. He used to do his homework on his own. But now he pays no attention to his lessons while at home. He can’t learn anything now,” she said.
Fatema Akhter Shammi, mother of twins Ayan and Ayman, is having a similar problem. Both her boys are first graders in Paradise Kindergarten and High School in Mirpur. But both of them are now itching to go back to school, said Shammi.
“They’ve been confined to our home for a while. They really want to go to school. One day, they called their teacher, cried and begged her to open the school. They complained about not being able to play or meet their friends. Later, the teacher explained the situation to them.”
Both her sons are high achievers in their class but now they are losing their study habits, said Shammi. She is now at her wit’s end when it comes to dealing with the problem.
“At home, all they want is to watch cartoons or play games on their mobile phones. I have to force them to do their studies. They lost their interest. One hour of online class once a week does not bring any benefit to them.” School gives children a good exposure to many things they are now missing out on, according to Jharna Tripura, mother of Anannya Tripura Shreya, a first-grader in Viqarunnisa Noon School.
“We’re confining the children to homes to keep them safe but it has turned into a jailhouse for them. Annanya wants to go out, meet friends, go to school and playground. But it’s not possible now. I’m trying my best to explain the situation to her, but she’s getting cranky every day,” she told bdnews24.com.
Seven-year-old Arshiya Ayat Murtaza, a student of Mirpur Cantonment Public School and College, is also pining for a return to school.
“I want to go to school. I want to attend my classes with my friends and play with them. I don’t mind if the teacher scolds me, but I want is to go back to school. Staying at home is so boring,” Arshiya said.
Arshiya has an hour of online classes a week. She looks forward to the lessons as she gets to see her teacher and friends.
Arshiya’s elder sister Priyanti Arya is a student of class four in the same school. She attends three hours of online classes for five days a week. “It’s very tough to attend online classes all at once. I get a headache and feel pressured. There’s no fun in attending classes this way,” Priyanti said.
“Earlier I used to long for a holiday but now I’m looking forward to the school’s reopening.”
School plays a vital role in the social development of children, which can be hindered if they are restricted to their homes over a prolonged period of time, according to Prof Golam Rabbani, president of Bangladesh National Mental Health Foundation.
“Parents, family and the educational institution are crucial to the socialisation of a child. Children get their idea of culture from there. But the critical time we’re going through now is hindering the mental development of children,” he told bdnews24.com.
Safir had just begun pre-school this year after getting admitted to Charupath Hatekhori School in Mirpur. But before he could befriend his peers or make an impression on teachers, he found himself homebound as the coronavirus pandemic reared its head, reports bdnews24.com
While his mother was initially able to mollify him, it became increasingly difficult to make him understand the gravity of the situation as the days turned to months.
As the pandemic rages on, children like Safir are growing more restless as they remain confined within the four walls of their homes.
The situation, which is far from normal, could hamper the overall development of children, according to psychologists and educationists.
In a new report, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned the impact of the global COVID-19 crisis on children extends far beyond
the spheres of their physical health and could be lifelong. It revealed the pandemic was having profound effects on children’s mental health, social development, safety, privacy, economic security and beyond. Experts have urged parents to be more attentive to their children’s needs to help them navigate these challenging times.
Bangladesh reported its first cases of novel coronavirus in March. Shortly afterwards, schools and educational institutions across the country were shut down in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
Even as many countries around are sending their children back to school, Bangladesh is yet to finalise its plans on reopening educational institutions.
Different institutions in Dhaka are trying to continue the learning process through online classes but both the children and their parents are unaccustomed to it.
Safin has to attend online classes for an hour for six days a week, according to his mother Shahrin Bushra. But it becomes very difficult to make him sit through these classes, she said.
“Earlier it was okay. But now I have to force him to attend the online class. He wants to go back to school and be with his friends.” To placate the child, Shahrin took him to his closed school twice.
“Children differ from each other. Earlier, he would prepare for his lessons at home. He used to do his homework on his own. But now he pays no attention to his lessons while at home. He can’t learn anything now,” she said.
Fatema Akhter Shammi, mother of twins Ayan and Ayman, is having a similar problem. Both her boys are first graders in Paradise Kindergarten and High School in Mirpur. But both of them are now itching to go back to school, said Shammi.
“They’ve been confined to our home for a while. They really want to go to school. One day, they called their teacher, cried and begged her to open the school. They complained about not being able to play or meet their friends. Later, the teacher explained the situation to them.”
Both her sons are high achievers in their class but now they are losing their study habits, said Shammi. She is now at her wit’s end when it comes to dealing with the problem.
“At home, all they want is to watch cartoons or play games on their mobile phones. I have to force them to do their studies. They lost their interest. One hour of online class once a week does not bring any benefit to them.” School gives children a good exposure to many things they are now missing out on, according to Jharna Tripura, mother of Anannya Tripura Shreya, a first-grader in Viqarunnisa Noon School.
“We’re confining the children to homes to keep them safe but it has turned into a jailhouse for them. Annanya wants to go out, meet friends, go to school and playground. But it’s not possible now. I’m trying my best to explain the situation to her, but she’s getting cranky every day,” she told bdnews24.com.
Seven-year-old Arshiya Ayat Murtaza, a student of Mirpur Cantonment Public School and College, is also pining for a return to school.
“I want to go to school. I want to attend my classes with my friends and play with them. I don’t mind if the teacher scolds me, but I want is to go back to school. Staying at home is so boring,” Arshiya said.
Arshiya has an hour of online classes a week. She looks forward to the lessons as she gets to see her teacher and friends.
Arshiya’s elder sister Priyanti Arya is a student of class four in the same school. She attends three hours of online classes for five days a week. “It’s very tough to attend online classes all at once. I get a headache and feel pressured. There’s no fun in attending classes this way,” Priyanti said.
“Earlier I used to long for a holiday but now I’m looking forward to the school’s reopening.”
School plays a vital role in the social development of children, which can be hindered if they are restricted to their homes over a prolonged period of time, according to Prof Golam Rabbani, president of Bangladesh National Mental Health Foundation.
“Parents, family and the educational institution are crucial to the socialisation of a child. Children get their idea of culture from there. But the critical time we’re going through now is hindering the mental development of children,” he told bdnews24.com.
