Welcome prospect

Welcome prospect

It was good to read that Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel plans to meet with local school boards on the current situation. Fully switching to distance learning was completely understandable with rising coronavirus infections, but – as the minister said – the last update took place on August 30.

Four weeks have since passed and the COVID-19 numbers seem to be gradually declining on both sides of the island, albeit with apparent ups and downs. Ultimately the advice of health authorities will play a big role; however, it would be nice if students could once again safely be taught in classrooms at least partially.

Not everyone agrees and it has been heart-warming seeing how businesses, institutions, service clubs and others stepped up to the plate by providing adequate electronic devices and in certain cases even Internet where needed to make virtual lessons accessible for children lacking such. Nevertheless, some are still bound to be left behind and education is a fundamental universal right.

In addition, going to school involves a lot more than strictly academics. It is also about functioning in a group setting, dealing with peers and developing social skills.

Of course, this is the “new normal” and online education has taken the old concept of “home-schooling” to a new level. But it comes at a price for parents and caretakers having to supervise youngsters during regular school hours, especially when they usually work at that time.

Teachers too deserve credit for managing as best possible under difficult circumstances in the past month, because it has not been easy for them either. Many would no doubt love to be back in the classroom with “their” pupils sooner rather than later.

Although things will not be quite the same for quite a while, if ever, getting back to a semblance of life as we knew it before this unprecedented pandemic remains a welcome prospect.

The Daily Herald

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