“I miss my students and sometimes and I worry about them a lot. Sometimes I wish that I could convince their parents to just send them out, even if it is three days a week so I can teach them. I know they are struggling and it hurts me a lot.”
These are the words of a young teacher in a remote area. Unlike in urban areas, there is limited access to the internet and certainly not enough to facilitate online learning. Children in remote areas are given worksheets and these are returned for the teacher to mark them. Like in many parts of the world children in Guyana have not been in a physical school setting for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some of the parents are not even collecting the worksheets and even if they collect it, sometimes weeks would pass and they would not return them. I would see them from time to time and remind them and they would promise but it would just be a promise,” the teacher said.
“As a teacher it pains my heart because I wonder what will become of the students in my community. I know they said no school but as a teacher I am willing to teach my children. Let them wear their masks, even if it is four or three hours a day, I am willing. We have a lot of space for physical distancing because it is not a lot of children.
“Even if it is not at school, we could meet somewhere else just so I could do a little teaching and help them to understand the work. We can’t use Zoom or any other thing to help our children here to understand the work and most of the parents cannot help their children either. So, you understand what is happening with the children?” she asked, not expecting an answer.
This sister is a relatively young teacher and I understand her desire to physically impart knowledge to her students. No doubt they, like millions of others around the world, are suffering and are among the worst off as they have no access to online education.
“The thing is when COVID came, I was so afraid like so many people but I also thought by now we would have been back in school. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that COVID is real and we need to stay safe but I also understand that my students are suffering,” she lamented.
“The students from my last class were just promoted and I am not even sure if they understood the work from that class. These students have never seen me in the classroom. I know them, but I never got
to teach them in a classroom. I see them at times around but what else can I do?
I spoke to some of the parents but
they don’t seem too keen on sending their children.
“The thing is I know the children go other places and all I am saying it is not of many of them and I just want to help them because I know they are not learning.
“I think there will come a time when a decision would just have to be made especially for students in these areas. We have to look at it from all angles and open the doors for the younger children. It is happening for older children in all areas and I understand that the younger children would be harder to control and keep safe.
“But for me, in areas like these where the population is small, we can have a controlled system where not all the children would come every day and there is more than enough room for them to be physically distanced. And then it does not have to be the whole day but something has to be done for these children. They are not learning anything. Yes, they getting worksheets, but I don’t even know if they are doing them. And in some cases it is the parents who are doing the work for them.
“It does not look like COVID is going anywhere anytime soon so a decision has to be made.
“You know sometimes parents and other people would beat up on teachers, especially in these times, saying that enough is not being done. But I can tell you… I am willing to do much more for my students but it is the parents not cooperating and I don’t understand why. They must understand that education is important even if it is just to know the basic. We only have a primary school in the community and a lot of time the children don’t move on to secondary school because they have to go out of the area. But let them get the foundation at least,” the teacher pleaded.
I understood the frustration of this teacher and I am sure many others, inclusive of those who sit at the Ministry of Education and us parents, but as the saying goes ‘there is so much we can do and no more’. However, as the teacher said, there has to come a point when decisions will have to be made one way or the other, especially for those students in remote areas.
And let’s not forget that the children who have access to internet are also suffering.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) so far, data suggests that children under the age of 18 years represent about 8.5% of reported cases, with relatively few deaths compared to other age groups and usually mild disease.
“However, cases of critical illness have been reported. As with adults, pre-existing medical conditions have been suggested as a risk factor for severe disease and intensive care admission in children,” WHO has said.
It noted that further studies are underway to assess the risk of infection in children and to better understand transmission in this age group.
It was pointed out as well that school closures have clear negative impacts on child health, education and development, family income and the overall economy.
It was advised that as authorities debate the reopening of schools they should consider these benefits:
● Allowing students to complete their studies and continue to the next level
● Ensuring essential services, access to nutrition, and child welfare, such as preventing violence against children
● Social and psychological well-being
● Access to reliable information on how to keep themselves and others safe
● Reducing the risk of non-return to school
● Benefit to society, such as allowing parents to work
And let’s not forget the grim words of UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore: “The number of out-of-school children is set to increase by 24 million, to a level we have not seen in years and have fought so hard to overcome.
“Children’s ability to read, write and do basic math has suffered, and the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century economy have diminished,” she continued.
It would seem that the time when a hard decision would have to be made for the reopening of school is fast approaching.
