Rayees Ahmad Kumar
Schools in both the geographical divisions of J&K are reopening within a week or two after observing a break of several months. Kashmir based educational institutions are observing winter vacation these days while in Jammu division these seats of learning have been shut due to pandemic situation. Now when the administration has geared up to reopen these institutions and all the necessary precautions with regard to check the further spread of COVID infection are being put in place, there is enthusiasm and excitement among both the students as well as their parents who seem eager to find their wards again in classrooms learning in the formal way. All other alternative ways of teaching especially to our primary grade students have proved either completely failure or less productive. It can’t be completely denied that during pandemic period there was no alternative other than to use modern technology and initiate online mode of teaching but for a longer period instead of yielding better results the excessive use of cell-phones and exposure to computer screens for hours together is harmful to physical and mental wellbeing. So, reopening of schools and the initiation of physical classroom teaching is the most welcome step at this juncture. Our future generation has suffered heavy educational losses due to closure of educational institutions for last couple of years. Particularly those little buds, admitted during 2019 or 2020 in class 1st or nursery classes, have faced huge loss as they are yet to see the normal classroom teaching because crucial years of their tender age have already got wasted in which they were supposed to learn basics of reading and writing. This loss would not be compensated for them. Therefore children, parents, teachers and all other stakeholders not only should welcome this wise decision but should cooperate with authorities at the helm of affairs to keep a check on the further spread of this infection. Following SoPs and adhering to the guidelines of health authorities can definitely bring desired outcome. Maintenance of hygiene and sanitation in and around the school premises, advising students to shun reckless behaviour and following the advisories can also help in mitigating the loss suffered due to closure of the schools. Collectively we must act as responsible citizens so that unlike previous years authorities would no way feel the need to shut schools a month later.
A nation’s overall progress and development can’t be imagined without taking constructive steps for improving and strengthening its educational scenario. Former president and distinguished scientist Dr A P J Abdul Kalam had said, “Education gives you the wings to fly’. History is witness to the fact that only those states and nations have developed and succeeded in touching skies, who have prioritized the education system. Coming back to our motherland, we have seen from past many years that education of our children has become the biggest casualty, as a result of which our future generation is suffering most. Due to derailing of the sector, children, parents as well as the teachers feel equally displeased. The last 2 years have hit the education sector badly due to COVID-19 lockdown which resulted in a huge loss for students. No doubt, students are attending the online classes but the physical presence of their teachers in classrooms has its own importance which all students have been missing for the past 2 years now. Now when the administration has finalised to reopen the educational institutions on March 1, 2022 in valley after culmination of winter-break, there is new hope and both parents and their wards feel enthusiastic and overjoyed to be a part of normal physical classroom teaching. Besides adhering to the administrative guidelines there is need to take some constructive steps in order to compensate academic loss of previous years. Teachers need to be more vibrant, they must access abilities and achievements of their pupils so that future course of action can be ascertained. Parents and students must equally cooperate with teachers so that while delivering their legitimate duties in classrooms, better results are achieved. Hope the new academic year will soon see a better spring so that already derailed education sector can be overhauled.