The Ministry of Education has decided to start schools from tomorrow (23) in all areas except the Western Province and isolated areas. Education Minister Prof. G.L Peiris says that schools will be opened for students from grade six to grade 13. Director General of Health Services, Specialist Dr. Asela Gunawardena says that it has been decided to reopen schools with due diligence.
But the question many parents have is whether the background is safe enough to send their children to school? To go In the midst of the Covid epidemic, the GCE Advanced Level examination was held recently and the government stated that all the necessary health guidelines have been prepared for the children to face the examination safely. But nearly twenty children became infected with Covid. Some students appeared for the exam at the IDH Hospital in Mulleriyawa.
At present, the number of Covid infections does not appear to be declining and is now close to 20,000, with only 83 deaths. Some areas are still isolated. Against this backdrop, the challenge for parents is whether they can send their children to school safely.
Although children are supervised by teachers at school, it is important to consider the means of transportation they use to get to and from school. Especially if the child is using public transport, he may fall ill due to collisions with public transport supports and contacts on his way to school.
Even in school vans and buses, it is mandatory for children to wear masks and not be able to travel in one pack as usual. But do young children wear masks when they drive home from school in a van? Do you use hygienic methods? Is doubtful. That’s because this is a new experience for kids.
We inquired about this from the General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Starlin and he said that the government has taken steps to start schools without any plan. He says the opening of schools should be done in several stages.