Staying in the virtual world hasn’t blunted the competitive edge of school students. In fact, they are sharp and alive to the situation more than ever. It was demonstrated at The Times School Parliament, which was held virtually on Friday, ahead of Children’s Day. Students from 15 participating schools voted 9:6 against the motion ‘Schools must remain physically closed for students till a vaccine is available’
Nagpur: Schools were the first to be closed when the pandemic struck. Now, businesses and social life are gradually getting back to normal and the government has allowed reopening of schools. Now, the question is whether students are ready for offline learning.
The Times School Parliament, held virtually on Friday and not at the NMC Town Hall as it would have happened in normal times, saw an intense debate on the motion ‘Schools must remain physically closed for students till a vaccine is available’. Students voted against the motion 9:6.
Two students each from 15 participating schools put forth their arguments with some interesting points backed by figures from various studies.
A speaker from Centre Point School International cited increase in mental health issues and suicides as an adverse impact of the shutdown. “Online classes have reached a saturation level. There is uncertainty regarding the arrival of the vaccine. So, let’s get back to school without wasting precious time,” they said, thus setting the tone for the debate.
Countering the view, students from South Public School, Omkar Nagar, felt reopening schools now can prove to be a destructive move. “Children can act as carriers of infection. Moreover, online education is available and government has come up with options for students with poor Internet connectivity,” they said.
Kids World School speakers pointed out problems being faced by students and teachers during online classes. “The shutdown has affected more than one crore teachers,” said a speaker. Another speaker advocated reopening of schools with precautionary measures in view of the low level of infection among children and decline in the case fatality rate.
Being fearless is the best option to fight the pandemic, said a student from Delhi Public School, Kamptee Road. “If commercial establishments can open, why can’t schools,” the speakers asked. According to them, if online education continues, students will face physical, mental, intellectual and social trauma. “Can’t wait for a vaccine forever,” said a speaker.
Edify School students favoured the bill stating online education has been a big help in keeping students safe while staying at home has helped them build a strong bond with parents. “Reopening schools now will be like playing with fire,” they said.
School of Scholars speakers strongly believed that students will be endangered despite all the precautions if schools are reopened. They even cited examples of parents and teachers protesting against reopening of schools. Many parents are unable to pay full school fees, they said while calling for taking extra precautions in view of the feared second wave of the infection.
Opposing the motion, Narayan Vidyalayam felt reopening schools immediately will help support the economy of various sectors as well as test the National Education Policy. They cited the wide urban-rural divide in digital education to back their argument for reopening of schools.
Giving the example of the 1918 pandemic, a Modern School speaker said schools were then closed for four months without online help. “So, why can’t we remain closed when online education is available,” said a speaker and added that life is more important. Another speaker, while referring to a survey, said only 30% parents are willing to send their children to school. “Without a vaccine, reopening schools will spell disaster,” the speakers said.
Students from Bishop Cotton School were in favour of the motion while pointing out that if they are reopened, aided schools will be financially burdened with cost of daily sanitization and test for teachers without government help.
Students of Delhi Public School, Lava, said that online classes have many disadvantages as they supported reopening of schools. “Moreover, many parents are not in favour of online classes and children are missing their friends in schools,” they said.
Backing DPS were students from Jain International School who argued that child abuse, trafficking has increased during lockdown. “Also, radiations from electronic devices are affecting health,” they said while supporting reopening of schools as “not all are privileged to attend online classes from home”.
Central India Public School students called for reopening schools by taking precautions and letting children feel normal. “Most middle-class families in India cannot afford electronic devices for online education. This has disrupted learning for millions of students and it can have a long-term impact,” they said.
Shri Guru Harkishan Public School speakers said schools are not just for academic purpose and build a child’s social, moral and emotional character, which cannot be achieved in virtual learning. “Students without a good environment at home are suffering,” they said while supporting offline learning with safety precautions.
According to Montfort School speakers, reopening schools will threaten the lives of youth in the absence of a vaccine. “If reopened now, schools will become a hub for disease transmission. Instead, double the effort in online classes,” said a speaker. “Joh swastha nahi woh bimar, uski har jeet sirf ek haar hain,” said another speaker.
Lalitha Public School speakers informed that about 25 crore students are confined to their homes and any further delay in reopening schools will be detrimental from the academics point of view. “Reopen schools with precautions,” they said.
Students unleashed their full potential in the open house session that followed. Countering a point made about increase in suicides due to mental health issues, a student said they can be controlled but not infections. Another student argued that people also die due to other diseases like malaria.