While the offices went into work from home, schools also had to shut down courtesy of COVID-induced lockdown. With the entire country in lockdown mode, people were adapting to the new normal. And hence, students as well, be it the school going or university going, were supposed to stay at home. They had to complete their courses, assignments and attend their classes all through online platforms.
The second wave of Covid
But then, as the first wave passed and with proper measures, we could control the spread, the lockdown ended. The schools opened, the workplaces shifted back to the brick and mortar model, and people started having gatherings. Many people would be seen gathering in smaller spaces, making them the hub of the virus spread.
Looking at all, it is not a surprise that the second wave of Coronavirus is once again booming. A significant amount of covid positives are emerging. Those who were safe the first time are also getting it. But the COVID-19 survivors who have been through it once are also prone to getting it once again. And so, this current situation is all the scarier.
Covid and the schools
Moreover, while offices employ adults, schools have young children or teenagers. The health of these younger Pakistanis should be our utmost priority. And therefore, the tweet by the Ministry of Federal Education met with positivity. The tweet read:
“Federal Minister Education @Shafqat_Mahmood will chair an important meeting of provincial Education Ministers at #NVOC today to discuss the latest #coronavirus situation in the country. Minister has stated categorically that the health of students is our top priority.”
Federal Minister Education @Shafqat_Mahmood will chair an important meeting of provincial Education Ministers at #NVOC today to discuss latest #coronavirus situation in the country.Minister has stated catagorically that health of students is our top priority #Schools #Pakistan
— Ministry of Federal Education/ProfessionalTraining (@EduMinistryPK) November 16, 2020
People’s Reactions
People reacted to this news in affirmation. One such responder signaled to numerous positive cases in his school. According to him, there was no policy regarding 14-day quarantine for positive patients. So all those individuals might have become carriers for the spread.
The schools should be closed , we have many cases in our schools but the school doesn’t even care to give us 14 days of to quarintine ourselves.
— random kid (@shamirwaseem2) November 16, 2020
Sir not only schools but Universities must be closed immediately. As several of bright students had lost their lives to Covid. Unfortunately all of their past achievements are gone with the wind.Can anyone of us afford any further casualties because of this wrath of God.A big No!
— Xeenat Bahar Xeerak (@Serene_Aqua) November 16, 2020
Another person talked about how even students, young people, have succumbed to coronavirus—all their struggles to attain education, all gone because of the pandemic.
So it is high time the ministry meets up to discuss the current situation. Whatever the solution they come up with, be it the closure of schools or a better way of containing the virus without closing the schools, it will probably be better than how the educational institutes are currently dealing with COVID-19.
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