Two years ago, from today, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. Everything was at a standstill, including schools. However, as the vaccinations against COVID-19 started rolling out and the situation began to get better, nations worldwide opened schools for middle and high school children after months.
Unfortunately, a new variant of COVID-19, called the Omicron virus, started to spread around the world and with that, schools were closed again. This consistent opening and closing of schools are hampering the development of children, especially for toddlers and pre-teens.
Many children didn’t even get to go to school because of their age, which impacts their physical, social and cognitive development. Those who got to school remained confused due to the constant transition between online and offline studies. Health vs education: Closure of schools due to covid impact development of children .
Whereas a few children are stressed due to the shift from offline to online and find difficulty deriving meaning from online lectures. But, there’s a ray of hope among children that soon they’ll get to go to school permanently and enjoy the schooling years.
Here’s what teachers and children think about the same
A student from Bengaluru, studying in class 11th, was full of joy when he got to go to school after months. But, just after a few days of physical classes, his school was shut again as the cases started surging in his city. He passed class 10th without sitting for board exams, but he hoped that the scenario would change in class 11th.
Though his desire to go to school was fulfilled, it lived short as schools got shot after two years. Now he says that he isn’t hopeful of being carefree in the school before the pandemic.
The principal of the MRG school in Delhi, Anshu Mittal, said that the pandemic had taken a toll on students, mentally and physically. Opening and closing of schools have resulted in anxiety, stress and confusion.
She said that the teachers and staff are trying their best to help children in these difficult times. She also held parents responsible for children’s moods as they have to help children and be their motivators and inspirations.
Advisor Vinod Malhotra from Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions pointed out that interruptions in schooling years severely impact a child’s overall development. He said, “We will have to devise a system that ensures a systemic approach and becomes a new normal.”
UNESCO’s take on the situation
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization has also highlighted those transitions in the education sector led to an adverse impact on the children. The organizations gave several points about how disruption in education is hampering children.
Firstly, they said that children aren’t getting opportunities to grow and develop because of the disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic. The same is even worse for the underprivileged because they have fewer opportunities outside school.
UNESCO mentioned that nutrition intake is also hampered due to the closure of schools because many children fulfilled their nutritional requirements with the food that was served to them in school. This situation has also led to teachers losing their connection with children, and they are finding it challenging to make monotonous online classes interesting for the students.
At the same time, as the schools have shut down, a significant burden of educating children is on the shoulders of parents. Though many parents can impart children with adequate knowledge, parents with limited or no education find difficulty doing so.
Many parents are left with no option but to leave their children alone at home as they have to go outside to work. But this can prove dangerous as children can indulge in substance abuse or do activities out of peer pressure. At the same time, parents who decide to stay at home and take care of their kids end up with no jobs and financial crises.
UNESCO further mentioned that the scenario results in higher dropout rates. Children might find difficulty going back to school, or some might have to work to get their families out of a financial crisis. Closure of schools has also led to children being married, sexual exploitation, child labour and teenage pregnancies.
Thus, children are suffering in a battle between prioritizing their health and education. They are staying in the home to protect themselves from harmful disease, but at the same time, they are missing out on education, and their development is at stake.
Published By- Bharat Anand
