Everything You Need To Know About Schools And Colleges Re-opening And Safety Tips You Can Incorporate

The Ministry of Health has announced that schools and colleges will be reopened on the 21st of September. A phased re-opening is being planned, and there are a few measures that schools and colleges will have to incorporate into their safety routines. This ranges from banning any large gatherings of students to letting certain sections of students attend classes separately. College students like Ph.D. scholars, those who have to participate in practical examinations, and postgraduates would most likely have to report to their campus first. Certain shared access areas like laboratories and gymnasiums will remain open but with social distancing guidelines maintained. Any congregational prayers or morning assemblies will not be allowed. Read on to know more of the restrictions and the measures you can take to ensure your return or your child’s return to school and college is safe (1):

Government Guidelines

As per government rules, only schools and colleges that are operating in non-containment zones will be allowed to re-open. Students, teachers, staff, or employees who are living in containment zones will not be allowed to enter the campuses. Teachers who are at high-risk like elderly teachers, pregnant teachers, and those who have diseases, will not be allowed to enter campus either. Every college and school will have to undergo a thorough cleansing routine before it reopens. Institutes that are reopening have been advised to keep a stock of personal protection gear like masks, hand sanitizers, visors, and face covers. Campuses have also been asked to avoid any cash transactions, and e-wallets have been encouraged.

All entry points to the educational institutes will have to keep hand sanitizers and conduct thermal screening for high temperatures. To ensure that social distancing is maintained, schools have to draw markings on staff room floors, library, office area, cafeterias, messes, and classroom seating will be rearranged. No sports events or assemblies will be allowed, as crowding is meant to be avoided completely. Students will be asked not to share stationary or any class notes amongst one another and will have to wear masks. All educational institutions had been shut down since March to curb the spread of COVID (2).

What Parents Think

Earlier this month, a leading newspaper reported about a survey that was conducted to inquire what parents’ views were on the reopening of educational institutions. A survey conducted earlier that involved 12,000 participants from various metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai revealed that 92% of parents did not want their children to return to school. Around 56% of parents stated that they would wait for a month after re-opening to assess the situation before they decide to send their kids back to school. Only 8% of parents who had participated in the survey revealed that they would be fine sending their children back to school immediately (3).

64% of the parents who were surveyed reported that they would be unwilling to let their child attend a birthday party even if social distancing norms were followed. Only 1% of the parents surveyed reported that they would be okay with visiting a mall or letting their child visit a mall once those were fully reopened. Regarding social activities, only 35% of parents stated that they would be willing to let their children play with others and socialize in parks or other public spaces. 25% of parents stated that they were ready to let their children participate in sports once those institutions were reopened.

How To Prepare Yourself Or Your Family

Firstly, address any anxiety that you and your family may have related to the matter. If your child might be feeling hesitant and scared to return to their school or college listen to their worries and understand where their fears may lie. If you’re dealing with an older teenager you could also advise them to interact with a counselor who might be able to provide some guidance to them. If you yourself have any concerns, you should also address them while keeping in mind that you shouldn’t overwhelm the kids with your burden. Sit down with them, plan out their routines and work schedule. Make sure you keep an open dialogue and answer any concerns or questions that they may have. There are tonnes of resources that you can look up online and keep into account while explaining the following to your children.

You can also keep in touch with the teachers and other staff on the educational board and ask them to provide any resources that may be valuable to you or your child. If your child studies at university in another state or attends university at another location, let them know that there will be counseling centers and other resources available for them to access during this time. Your job as a parent is to reassure them that everything will be alright and that they should just follow as many safety measures and precautions that they can. If at any point you feel like your child may have been exposed to the virus while at school, make sure you take all precautions while self-quarantining them in a separate room. Let the teachers and staff know that your child is unwell and observe their symptoms to see how their recovery process is going.

Get in touch with a doctor online and find out how you can care for your child if they do indeed have COVID. It’s understandable to have concerns about your child’s safety during this time and we wish you the best of luck. Are you comfortable returning to or sending your child back to their educational institution? Let us know in the comment section below.

Banner Image Credits: Economic Times

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Niharika NayakBA (Media & Communication)

 

Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing video games, and hanging out with stray animals.

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