No more excuses, reopen schools now as children cannot wait: UNICEF executive director

As COVID-19 continues to spread all over the world, we urge governments to do everything in their power to keep it from further disrupting children’s education, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement. The statement also read that UNICEF and partners have developed a Framework for reopening schools, regardless of vaccination of school-aged children. “When deciding whether to reopen schools, authorities should look at the benefits and risks across education, public health and socio-economic factors, in the local context, using the best available evidence. The best interest of every child should be paramount,” reads UNICEF framework for school reopening.

What is school reopening status
States including Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh and Haryana have announced that they are considering to reopen educational institutions from February 1, 2022, following all COVID-19 protocols. While other state governments have said they take a decision on school reopening soon. Reports suggest that the Centre is likely to issue an advisory to reopen schools across the country as soon as the vaccination drive among children has picked up pace.

To avert a learning catastrophe and put children back on the learning track, this is what is recommended:

Keep schools open
Around 616 million children are currently affected by school closure. “We know that mitigation measures help keep schools open. We also know that investments in digital connectivity can help us make sure that no child is left behind. We need bold action to enable every child to return to school,” Fore said. This includes providing comprehensive support with a particular focus on marginalised children in each community, such as catch-up classes, mental health and nutrition support, protection and other key services.

Making access to in-person schooling contingent on COVID-19 vaccination only risks denying children access to education and increasing inequalities.
Vaccinate staff and students
It is recommended that teachers and staff get their primary doses of vaccination immediately. “Teachers and school personnel should be fully supported and prioritised to receive COVID-19 vaccines, once frontline health personnel and high-risk populations are vaccinated,” the statement read.

Fore also stressed on the fact that children vaccination and schooling had no real connection. Do not make vaccination a pre-requisite for in-person schooling. Making access to in-person schooling contingent on COVID-19 vaccination only risks denying children access to education and increasing inequalities. Consistent with WHO recommendations, UNICEF recommends keeping schools open and ensuring that countries’ COVID-19 control strategies facilitate children’s participation in education and other aspects of social life, even without vaccinating children and adolescents.

“In crisis conditions, there are always difficult decisions that force difficult trade-offs, and we recognize the unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic is creating for school systems worldwide. But the stakes are too high. We must collectively do everything we can to keep children in school,” Fore said. (Agencies)