FairTalks Discusses Reluctance of Parents on School Reopening with Experts

07 Nov, 2020

Summary: FairTalks, a school community research based analysis of burning issues, discussed the reluctance of 74% of parents to send children to school on safety concerns with experts in school education industry.

New Delhi, 7 November 2020: School Reopening will be a big step to move a step closer to the ‘New Normal’. Fair Talks, a school community research based analysis of burning issues organised by FairGaze in association with Sankalp Sahodaya CBSE cluster South-west Delhi, discussed the reluctance of 74% of parents to send children to school on safety concerns with experts in school education industry.

The FairGaze School Community Research indicated that 48% feel that schools are not equipped to ensure safety measures against the pandemic and over 61% of the respondents opined that the children will not be able to ensure social distancing.

Of the respondents, 65% of the respondents agreed that children will miss out on practical-lab learnings, if they don't attend school and over 57% agreed that reopening of schools will help in improving mental and physical health of students. Interestingly, over 70% agreed that blended learning with classroom and online is the new normal.

The expert panellists included Dr. Sudha Acharya, Principal of ITL Public School and President of CBSE Sahodaya, South West Delhi Chapter; Dr. Ashok Pandey, Director of Ahlcon Group of Schools and Former Chairperson, National Progressive Schools' Conference; Mr. S.K. Bhattacharya, President of Action Committee and Chairman of Bal Bharti Public School, Navi Mumbai; and Mr. Anirudh Khaitan, Vice Chairman of Khaitan Public School. The eminent discussion delved on the readiness, risks, safety measures that need to be in place to ensure safe classroom learning.

Opening the discussion, Dr. Sudha Acharya said, "Over 1.5 billion students are impacted worldwide by the closure of schools. The school is a social space for collaboration, experiential learning and social integration. As response to this crisis, UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP and the World Bank have jointly prepared a framework for school reopening elaborating measures to be taken prior to reopening and after the school resumes."

Mr. Bhatacharya highlighted that the issue is more than pandemic and has now become a psychological issue also. He said, "The question is how to prepare the mind of the children and parents and Government to allow the school to reopen."

Dr Ashok Pandey said, "We have to find a balance between managing with present learning which into red with learning losses and how much risk we can take with the health of the children." He opined that to succeed with the reopening plan requires embracing the change, adaptive leadership, reimagine the services and absolute collaboration between school and the parents.

Mr. Anirudh Khaitan added that the Covid pandemic is going to be here for next 12 months and that the parents, teachers and the authorities need to work together to fill gaps if any.

FairGaze is the largest school media and an engagement ecosystem for holistic development, which works with various stakeholders and policy makers, including organisers of premium events associated with education industry. FairGaze engages with over 350,000 students from over 13,000 schools across India. FairGaze works with schools to help manage their newsletter, conduct holistic development programs, promote the sports and cultural functions of the schools and recognise the achievements of the students.