Written By : Andrew Samuel
It has become increasingly difficult to strike a balance between recovering from the economic and political crises and strengthening people’s welfare during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Most classes have gone online in accordance with the Education Ministry’s order to close schools.
The ministry’s decision to reopen schools from Sept 1, which was initially taken based on a high vaccination rate, has received strong opposition.
Despite the reopening date being pushed back to Oct 3, it still raises questions about the rationale behind the decision to reopen schools in the first place, given that there are about 20,000 new Covid-19 cases daily.
In this regard, I welcome the Education Ministry’s proposal to reopen schools in October, provided that some prerequisites are met.
FIRST, the Health Ministry and Education Ministry must ensure that everyone involved in the education ecosystem — students, teachers, and other school personnel, such as security guards and canteen workers — is fully vaccinated.
SECOND, any subsequent decision made by the ministry must be in line with World Health Organisation guidelines.
The ministries must also review the number of cases and infection rate from time to time to ensure schools are safe; and,
FINALLY, school reopening should be done in stages, taking into consideration risk zones and phases outlined in the National Recovery Plan.
Ensuring a bright future for our country entails protecting our children.
Therefore, the Education Ministry’s efforts to prepare for the reopening, which takes children’s safety into consideration, must be applauded.
