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On schools re-opening, I asked my child's school a few questions on our WhatsApp group on a few things I believe we all need to consider seriously and urgently - that wooden scandal aside - if we re-open in a few weeks.
A thread.
A thread.
1. Are we planning to maintain the old school hours of between 7am and 4/5pm?
Those long hours have several implications which I'll spell out here, i.e.
- assembly
- meals
- play time
- mingling
- masks
- environment
I will outline each as points 2 onward.
Those long hours have several implications which I'll spell out here, i.e.
- assembly
- meals
- play time
- mingling
- masks
- environment
I will outline each as points 2 onward.
ASSEMBLY
Are we planning to be doing morning pre-class assembly for pupils and students? If so, do we have sufficient space to keep all the children 1.5 meters apart?
This would extend to school rituals such as prayer, raising the flag, announcements, that happen during assembly
Are we planning to be doing morning pre-class assembly for pupils and students? If so, do we have sufficient space to keep all the children 1.5 meters apart?
This would extend to school rituals such as prayer, raising the flag, announcements, that happen during assembly
MEALS
If children are to stay in school all day, they'll need teas and lunches. What steps are schools taking to ensure meal times are done safely? Even if meals are staggered, is there enough space to ensure all kids eat while maintaining social distancing?
If children are to stay in school all day, they'll need teas and lunches. What steps are schools taking to ensure meal times are done safely? Even if meals are staggered, is there enough space to ensure all kids eat while maintaining social distancing?
Still on meals, it would mean masks are taken off. How will this be managed, especially for younger children?
This goes back to my question on school hours. It might be wise to cut hours - although, for many poor kids, meals are one of the motivators for attending school.
This goes back to my question on school hours. It might be wise to cut hours - although, for many poor kids, meals are one of the motivators for attending school.
PLAY TIME
How is this going to be managed? Masks will come off, children will touch each other, etc. And parents know about those notorious school flus. Imagine children with asymptomatic Covid, but with a cold on top of it from playing together....that could be a problem.
How is this going to be managed? Masks will come off, children will touch each other, etc. And parents know about those notorious school flus. Imagine children with asymptomatic Covid, but with a cold on top of it from playing together....that could be a problem.
MINGLING
From inside the usually cramped classrooms, to outside during the course of every day.
How are we planning to ensure mingling, which is a natural inclination, is done safely so that children are safe, and don't come back to infect vulnerable adults in the home?
From inside the usually cramped classrooms, to outside during the course of every day.
How are we planning to ensure mingling, which is a natural inclination, is done safely so that children are safe, and don't come back to infect vulnerable adults in the home?
MASKS
We've all seen grown adults getting tired of masks. Hell, we've been the adults who feel suffocated and slip the mask to under the nose, or to the chin so that we can talk freely, breathe, and just feel "normal". How do we intend to tell kids to wear masks all day long?
We've all seen grown adults getting tired of masks. Hell, we've been the adults who feel suffocated and slip the mask to under the nose, or to the chin so that we can talk freely, breathe, and just feel "normal". How do we intend to tell kids to wear masks all day long?
Secondly on masks, will teachers keep masks on all day as they teach? Or will they feel they are not being heard as they teach and remove them, thereby exposing not just the children, but THEMSELVES?
Third - all these masks - who will pay for them? What happens if people cannot
Third - all these masks - who will pay for them? What happens if people cannot
afford to buy all these masks?
Imagine you have 3 school-going kids. That's a minimum of 3 surgical masks a day (the safest ones at this level of daily exposure, and easier to breathe through), or 3 cloth masks (which are harder to breathe through, therefore most likely to be..
Imagine you have 3 school-going kids. That's a minimum of 3 surgical masks a day (the safest ones at this level of daily exposure, and easier to breathe through), or 3 cloth masks (which are harder to breathe through, therefore most likely to be..
..removed by the child, and therefore, most likely to get lost, & therefore, the one most likely to elevate exposure to Covid19).
Same applies to the Teacher. Best bet is the surgical mask. Cloth masks are thicker, harder to speak through, easier to remove, etc). Who is paying?
Same applies to the Teacher. Best bet is the surgical mask. Cloth masks are thicker, harder to speak through, easier to remove, etc). Who is paying?
ENVIRONMENT
Surfaces, toilets, desks, floors, light switches, door handles - are all supposed to be disinfected HOURLY according to guidelines from MoH.
All dishes are supposed to be cleaned with bleach after every use.
Are schools ready to invest in this kind of cleaning?
Surfaces, toilets, desks, floors, light switches, door handles - are all supposed to be disinfected HOURLY according to guidelines from MoH.
All dishes are supposed to be cleaned with bleach after every use.
Are schools ready to invest in this kind of cleaning?
This would mean cleaning staff are equipped with gloves, masks, gum boots, cleaning material - and required to clean on the hour. For toilets, this includes cleaning toilet seats after each use, sinks, taps, etc to ensure low risk.
Will this be made available? I ask this
Will this be made available? I ask this
because I work in a public university, where cleaners are by and large petulant and unbothered, and feel they are shown contempt, therefore can't really be bothered most of the time. Some are relatives of higher-ups and really do little, but collect their salaries properly.
Of course, Covid19 has shown us that some of the jobs we held in high esteem are really nothing, and some of the jobs we thought lowly of are the ones keeping us alive.
So. Cleaning. Will this be done well? Are we willing to increase salaries and equipment for cleaners?
So. Cleaning. Will this be done well? Are we willing to increase salaries and equipment for cleaners?
These are some of the things to think about as we plan to re-open schools. I am sure there are some I've missed out on - such as water supply for handwashing, handwashing stations all over the schools, hand sanitisers, etc.
Let's talk.
Let's talk.
We cannot afford to say - children don't catch Covid19, they'll be okay. We cannot.
Not after reopening of skies, and second waves hitting other countries, and us not knowing if another more deadly strain will come in and start us on another road to perdition.
Let's talk.
Not after reopening of skies, and second waves hitting other countries, and us not knowing if another more deadly strain will come in and start us on another road to perdition.
Let's talk.
