Home ›› 30 Jan 2022 ›› Editorial
In what was termed by many observers as a knee-jerk move, the government declared the closure of all educational institutes from January 21 to February 6. There are apprehensions that the closure will be further extended “to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections across the country.” Ironically this declaration came at a time when the biggest trade fair of the country (many students visit the fair) was going on. While the government also banned social, religious, and political gatherings in open spaces, we are yet to see strict steps from the authorities concerned to enforce the ban. The city buses, for instance, are running at total capacity ignoring the order to keep half of their seats vacant.
The government has been quite prompt in closing down educational institutes at the earliest opportunity during the pandemic. The goal is obviously a wholesome one. Protecting the children from the super spreader should be a top priority. The question is whether shutting down schools, colleges, and universities is the best way to address the issue. The Unicef does not believe that it is. According to a desk report published in The Business Post on Saturday, Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore has called on world leaders to keep schools open amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The report quoted the Executive Director as saying “As the Omicron variant of Covid-19 continues its spread all over the world, we urge governments to do everything in their power to keep it from further disrupting children’s education”. She also urged the relevant authorities not to make vaccination a pre-requisite for in-person schooling.
The Omicron variety has led to a severe spike in infection rates in Bangladesh and the world at large. However, hospitalisations and fatalities have been on the lower side. Earlier, Bangladesh imposed the longest closure of educational institutes in the world. And the results were not beneficial, to say the least. According to experts, the prolonged closure affected over 40 million Bangladeshi students from pre-primary to higher education levels. The longer children remain out of school, the less likely they will return as they face increased risks of violence, child labour, and child marriage. Closure of educational institutes and the resultant lack of in-person teaching and learning activities have had an extremely serious impact on children's education and their health, protection, and psychosocial well-being. Real data confirms that students have incurred substantial learning losses from all income groups during the pandemic.
According to Unesco, when schools close, especially unexpectedly and for unknown durations, teachers are often unsure of their obligations and how to maintain connections with students to support learning. Transitions to distance learning platforms tend to be messy and frustrating, and Bangladesh is an example. In many contexts, school closures lead to furloughs or separations for teachers. When schools close, parents are often asked to facilitate children's learning at home and can struggle to perform this task. It is especially true for many Bangladeshi parents with limited education and resources. Also, the impact of Covid-19 on the under-18 population, which has been relatively insignificant worldwide in terms of serious illness and mortality.
Like the rest of the world, Bangladesh has to learn to live with Omicron or any other variant of the coronavirus. We believe that the policymakers should seriously consider keeping the educational institutes open and maintaining in-person classes. Bangladesh cannot afford a prolonged closure. We must consider the plight of many students living the rural areas for whom the internet is something still remote and a luxury. Worse, where the internet is accessible, the devices and the data prove too costly for them to afford. When health and safety are the top priority during this unprecedented time, we also need to ensure young people, especially the most vulnerable, do not stop in-person learning. Ensuring strict observance of health guidelines in the educational institutes can ward off the Covid-19 in the classroom. Any negative fallout from this closure should be avoided. Studies show that the negative impacts of closure of educational institutes outweigh the threats posed by the rise in infections.
