How Schools Can Safeguard the Wellbeing of Both Students and Educators during Coronavirus
The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all sectors of the economy. According to UNESCO, governments in 100 countries have decreed a nationwide or localized shutdown of learning institutions to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19.
If a solution is not found against the spread of this virus at the earliest possible time, millions of students are bound to contend with serious challenges. The primary concern is that staying at home for so long will cause students to get so far behind in coursework and disrupt their academic calendar.
As students sit at home, it means that teachers are out of work. Teachers in private schools are likely staring at tough economic times because private institutions rely on fee payment to provide salaries.
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, schools ought to step up their efforts to safeguard the wellbeing of both their students and educators. The following are some of the strategies they may have to implement:
Create an Online Learning Portal
Not every learning facility has the resources to create such a project. But setting up an online learning portal, and allowing students to access it, is perhaps the best solution against school shutdown. The success of this program would hinge on the cooperation between teachers, students, and the administration. Teachers may log in at the designated time and carry on with their sessions while students follow on the other end with their devices. There are numerous web applications for live streaming.
Teaching is one of those professions that necessitate passion. Teachers operate within a set of ethical principles and take the initiative to comprehend the psychology of their students. But, at the end of the day, teachers have to pay bills like everyone else, and if their teaching jobs cannot help them pay bills, they might be forced to look the other way. As the Coronavirus leaves a trail of destruction in its wake, the economic ramifications are rippling out to the education sector. This is a time when school administration bodies are put to the test as far as handling draining resources. To help students continue to learn, the school management must prioritize the payment of teachers’ salaries. Depending on the institution’s income flow, teachers might have to agree to pay cuts.
Create a Resource Center
Schools also have the responsibility of informing their students (and teachers) about important developments in regards to COVID-19. Since the entire world is fixated on this pandemic, the information is pouring down in torrents. And this scenario allows for misinformation to cover a lot of ground. Schools must take on the role of sifting the news and relaying accurate information to their students. This ensures that everyone is on the same page. Also, the more informed students are, the easier it becomes to protect themselves from the disease, or handling the situation appropriately in the unfortunate event that one comes down with the illness.
Establish Open Communication Channels
Schools don’t only exist for academic purposes. Students are supposed to finish school as well-rounded individuals. One of the ways to ensure this is through establishing open channels of communication. Most schools have departments that cater to students’ external issues which makes it easy to solve their existential problems. But, with the current Coronavirus pandemic, students are stuck at home, and they may not feel as free to disclose their issues to their guardians as they would to their teachers. Schools may establish online communication channels through which students may contact teachers and receive guidance. Schools have a great role to play in uplifting their students.
Posted on | 3/23/2020 | Shan S.Haider