Prof Dr Brig Gen Nazma Begum :
Education is the top priority because it is a basic human right and the foundation on which peace and sustainable development uphold. All sectors including education have been devastated by the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. As we approach the new normal in post Covid-19 era there is a need to consider the education a new in the light of emerging opportunities and challenges. Corona virus makes all the online activities should be returned to their offline interaction again. Education institute must be provided with continued support as they adapt into the new normal in the education landscape. The online education was hindered by poor infrastructures including network, power, inaccessibility and unavailability issues and poor digital skills. The education was underscores by the damaging effects of Covid-19.
While school closure seems to present a logical solution to enforcing social distancing within communities, prolonged closure tends to have a disproportionately negative impact on the most vulnerable students. They have fewer opportunities for learning at home and their time out of school may present economic burdens for parents who may face challenges finding prolonged childcare or every adequate food in the absence of school meals. Hard-won gains in expanded access to education could stagnate or reverse as school closures to extend and accessibility to alternate options like distant learning remain out of reach for those without means to connect.
This may cause further loss in human capital and diminished economic opportunities. Education interventions during a crisis can support prevention and recovery of public health while mitigating the impacts on students and learning. This all need to be factored into planning particularly during coping and recovery phases. It is also worth noting that education has the potentiality to contribute to the protection of children and youth. It helps them cope or maintain some normalcy during a crisis and recover more quickly, hopefully and some useful new skills.
Starting school or a new school year can be stressful at the best of time, let alone a global pandemic. Children may feel nervous or reluctant to return to school specially if they have been learning at home for months. We must have an open conversation with our child about what worrying them and let them know that it is completely normal to feel anxious.
Every parent should talk to them calmly about some of the changes they may expect at school. We can also highlight the important role they can play in keeping themselves healthy. Always remind the children about the positive — they will be able to see their friends and teachers and continue learning new things. As the children return to school every parent should keep an eye on their physical health, learning, emotions and behaviour. Signs of stress and anxiety should be looked out to gauge if they need extra support e.g. sadness, worry, anger, fatigue, confusion, lack of interest in playing with other children or completing their homework, not sleeping or eating well, loss of interest in their hobbies or friends. They should remind its normal to feel overwhelmed at times. They should encourage talking about how they are feeling and also let them know that the parents are always to listen.
We should explain that the virus has nothing to do with what someone looks like, where they are from or what language they speak. They should remind that school is a safe institute forever, everyone deserve to be safe at school. Bullying is always wrong and we should do our part to spread kindness and support. The children should motivate regarding their sleep habit, as the quality of sleep might have changed during lockdown. At the very beginning this might make getting back into a school routine difficult. They should get back into a routine of waking up before they return to school. They should not let nap during the day. Screen time should be avoided when they wake up and at least an hour, before they go to bed. We should develop a routine and stick to it. The day before they go back to school they should have a calm evening with plenty of time for sitting and preparation. It may need regular check in for children with question — how they are doing. Their concerns should be listened to and everybody should speak kindly and they must be reassured every time. Teachers and parents should manage their own emotions and remain calm and open. It is very important for the teachers and parents to priotise children’s wellbeing and adjustment to the new normal over their learning outcome. When children feel loved and supported they are going to learn better.
Post pandemic education will be a matter of great challenge to the new normal world. Though it is not a medical emergency but sometimes to some extent it is more than that. It demands the highest importance and attention. Our children are our future generation and education is their prior demand at any time. We must secure and strengthen our future backbone. This pandemic will go one day; all darkness will be removed by the light of education.
(The writer is a poet and columnist).
