Back to School - Voices of Adolescents, Teachers and Parents
Starting a new school year is always full of emotions and especially during a pandemic.
For nearly 77 million children, the pandemic has taken away their classrooms for the past 18 months. School children worldwide have lost 1.8 trillion hours and counting of in-person learning due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Some schools have started teaching back in classrooms, others have continued with the distance learning. But children in every city or village are looking forward to meeting their friends and teachers in person (UNICEF, 2021).
We asked adolescents, teachers and parents to tell us what they feel, how their lives have changed and the advantages and challenges of schools reopening.
Adolescent’s Views
Monisha .S, 15 years old, Class 10, Saadhak Academy, Bangarpet, Kolar
“After 2 years schools have been reopened. Schools provide not just learning and social support for us but also, crucially for our family, child care. After school reopened, I was able to understand the concepts we were being taught clearly and in detail. Before (at home) it was very difficult to listen to the classes online and I was not able to interact with teachers properly. Now I can interact with teachers and can clear my doubts. Really, I was shocked and at the same time I was eager to see my school. After 2 years of this pandemic, my school has really changed but I am happy to be back at school to see my friends.
Let us all pray to god to let this COVID-19 go away from India and let us all be strong to fight against COVID-19.”
Shafia, 15 years old, Class 10, Jain Global School, Bangarpet, Kolar
“The COVID-19 Pandemic overturned the performance and outcomes of the education system, which affected everyone worldwide.
Technology has been a blessing, giving us the chance to continue to work and learn from our comfort zones at home. The entire world is now as close as a click of the mouse. We have had to adapt to virtual learning, despite this change almost 90% of us adolescents globally have excelled in our learning still. Our teachers have outshone their finest skills on virtual learning despite it being new to them as well.
However, it has resulted in excessive stress. Due to spending so much time online, ophthalmologists have recommended the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain. Despite this virtual classes often take up to an hour this can make it hard for a lot of us as we commonly get eye strain.
I have noticed that as I am less physical activity I become fatigued over the smallest things.”
Sanjana Bai R, 15 years old, Class 10, Adarsha Vidyalaya, Bangarpet, Kolar
“I feel very happy to go back to school. Maintaining distance was hard, being stuck at home was boring. Leaning on my mobile screen started to cause pain for my eyes. Now I am back at school, I am happy to see my friends again. I am enjoying my school but we all should be careful, we have to avoid getting the virus. I love school and I think the interaction with my classmates and teacher face to face is very important and part of my education. At home it was hard to maintain discipline and structure, school reopening has provided this again - I happily wake up early & go to school. Going into school means the lessons are more interesting and joyful to participant in compared to the online lessons.”
M. Roshni, 15 years old, Class 10, Jyothi Public School, Bangarpet, Kolar
“After a long gap of 2 years (because of COVID-19), I felt very happy to see my school. After entering into the school, I was very excited to see my teachers and talk to them. I was eagerly waiting to see my principle, who guided us through this time. Although we attended online classes I didn’t enjoy having classes with my teachers online, I wished to be with them in person learning.
I was happy to see all my friends in my class, the whole day was filled with a lot of happiness!”
Sirisha, 15 years old, Class 10, Jyothi Public School, Bangarpet, Kolar
“After many days of staying in my house, going back to school made me feel stressed and burdened to study for a long hours. I could understand the online lessons but it was easier when we were taught face-to-face with our teachers. I am happy to meet my friends and new teachers. Going back to school has been cool but wearing a face mask and not lending or sharing things with friends has been hard - I sometimes broke these rules!
During online classes sometimes there were technical problems with the internet and I was missing the lessons but now I am happy to return school and I don’t have to worry about missing content. It got boring being at home and just watching TV I did miss the learning process of being at school.”
Teacher’s Views:
Mr. Vikram B.C, Saadhak Academy, Bangarpet, Kolar
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today” – Malcolm X.
But we in India have completely lost the education passport due to COVID-19. Students are returning to school after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus from education. Our country's rural and, to a lesser extent, suburban populations continue to struggle to gain access to the internet, and our children have lost access to the comprehensive online education that was available during the pandemic, and our children have completely lost the flow of education.
Students are now struggling to settle down in one place after returning to school; they lack concentration, their attention span has decreased, they lack basic writing, reading, and arithmetic skills, their emotional and mental well-being has been disrupted, and their social relationships have deteriorated. We have a long road ahead of us as teachers to give our students what they want and to recover their education passport so that they may start investing today for better future!”
Mrs. M. Veena, Teacher
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been haunting for two years in a row. The life of the students was a mess we have recently started in person classes trying to keep the students from dim light to bright morning. Along the way, I see the changes that we have happened in our children. The first is that they are on time-conscious and regular in their daily lifestyle. Secondly, stability and an interest towards learning again. Thirdly, a change in behaviour and discipline.”
Mrs. Lakshmi B. L, Assistant Teacher
“As a teacher, I was eagerly waiting to see my students in school. For the past 2 years, students haven’t had face to face contact with us as their teachers. Now schools are opening students are back to school. Its a challenge to to get the adolescents involve and back in the learning process after such a long gap away from it.
As a teacher it is my duty to help the students adjust to the school environment and learning process again as soon as possible. Being a responsible teacher, I want to dedicate myself to my students. I will create a very good learning atmosphere to my students.”
Mrs. Bhagya Lakshmi. G, SAADHAK ACADEMY, Bangarpet, Kolar
“During the past pandemic situation (COVID-19) the majority of the children had limited or no structured learning opportunities during this period. Opening schools is crucial for rescuing children from education deficits and mental health problems whilst also allowing their parents to work.
As a teacher, I found that online distance teaching was hard. Working so many hours on the computer caused pain for my eyes and fingers. It was also a challenge to ensure the children understood the online lesson, checking understanding is much easier when teaching in person".”
Mr. Girish, SAADHAK ACADEMY, Bangarpet, Kolar
As adolescents return back to school I have observed the impact that the present pandemic situation has had on them. Staying at home for whole days has made many of them more lazy and has decreased their interest in their studies. They needed to come back to school so we can teach in person. But sitting in a class for adolescents after having 2 years off is like sitting in a hot seat and answering questions where all the options look similar.
Parents should encourage their children by sending them back to the school and slowly increase the time that they are required to sit back in a class in person. Coming back to school will make the students regain their interest and knowledge towards their studies once again.”
Parent’s Views
Mrs. Najma Sabir
“Pre-pandemic school compared to post-pandemic school are completely different scenarios.
School was the best place for students to learn and follow discipline, in phase of pandemic the online classes held was the best initiative to keep the students on track. However, the online teaching has given a different set of challenges. Most of the children have been stuck to their mobiles/tablets/computers all the time, mainly there was close to nil physical activity.
Now as schools have started to teach again in person everyone displays a readiness to comply with the new safety regulations set by the government. Some parents think that distance learning could ruin the children’s overall understanding of the school, and moreover, that this could be damaging to their mental health. Both parents and children are happy to be back at school, and do not wish to return to distance learning. They say that they are ready to follow all the regulations set by the authorities.”
Sowmya Kashyap
“The desire of parents, students and teachers has finally been fulfilled, students are able to return back to school this fills us all with so much joy. Physical classes help children to listen and engage better with the lesson whilst providing better opportunities for them to resolve their doubts. Teachers and friends can forge personal relationships and relationships with everyone.
Physical classes, in all aspects, contribute to the all-round development of children and really good mentally and physically for development. Most importantly it lets children enjoy their childhood and student life. Let parents be encouraging and supporting their children’s dreams and aspirations -Student life is golden life”.
Mrs. Pramila
“Usually, the children were faced with a situation where everyone was in their family homes during teaching throughout COVID-19.
Children have forgotten basic skills needed for school such as reading and writing, now they are addicted to their mobile phones and TV. For that, teachers need to understand children's condition, understand that going back to school is now a big change for children and move with friendly manner. Teachers need to give constant support for children studies.”
Mr. K. M Manjunatha
“Going back to school is needed as there is too much usage of mobile phones. During the pandemic 70% of students played games on their phones and computers with only 30% actually making the online class.
Now students can attend in person they can also get a social education this will add to their bright future.”
Mrs. S.N. Vanitha
“The COVID lockdowns had a greater affect on student life so as a parent I encourage my kids with positive thoughts to go back to school and I made sure that, they do not loose their interest in studies. Because it is important to build their carrier and we started spending quality time with them. The best thing that happened due to lockdown is that we started opening up ourselves to our loved ones".”
Conclusions
We are facing an education crisis. The right to go to school and learn is central to every child’s development, safety and well-being. Yet in too many countries classrooms remain closed while social gatherings continue to take place. This generation of children and youth cannot afford any more disruptions to their education.
References:
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (2021), Reopen School - Unicef