‘A little Belief, A little Hope, A little Faith, is sometimes all that is needed to see the light’

The NEW YEAR 2021 has thankfully bestowed that upon us. I am visualizing this tiny ray of
hope to hold the Big Possibility to bring back the sunshine to schools.

There are two phases in every crisis – the one where you manage it & the other where you
learn from it. To succeed, you have to do both’. I hope to see the children, parents, teachers,
leaders and in fact everyone to be wiser, more patient, kind and mindful on the other side of
this Corona-Tunnel.

1. How do you see this decision of opening up of schools? – Edufeed Foundation 

Dr. Anuradha Govind – ‘A little Belief, A little Hope, A little Faith, is sometimes all what is needed to see the light’
The NEW YEAR 2021 has thankfully bestowed that upon us. I am visualizing this tiny ray of hope
holding the Big Possibility to bring back the sunshine to schools.
Well, we all are aware of the nationwide lockdown, since March 24, 2020, due to the global
pandemic. In the last 10 months, we have undergone various stages of unlocking and now this
decision of ‘partial reopening’ for Grades X & XII, for the purpose of preparation and Exams for
practical segment & also for conducting the Pre-Board exams. Under the guidelines issued by MHA,
the students of Grades X & XII would be soon allowed to come to school, with their parents’
written consent.
I see this decision as to the ‘first-path-breaking-step’ which will predominantly serve the purpose of
testing waters before the gradual reopening of schools in a full-fledged manner, the trajectory to
eventually, find our way back to normal days of schooling, begins with it. 

2. How do you plan to open them? With what precautions?– Edufeed Foundation 

Anuradha Govind- ‘Being challenged in life is inevitable, Being defeated is optional’. The far-sighted preparation
does not even leave it to any chance or option.
The SOP of reopening is already in place. It includes the consent from parents, orientation and
training of all the stakeholders – teachers, other staff/help-staff members, parents and students.
The other strategies include several measures – thermal checking and sanitization of entrants at
the school gate & the intensive cleaning and sanitization process in the school twice every day. In
addition to it, there would be precautionary signage, posters and floor-signs across the campus,
mandatory use of masks, gloves and personal sanitizers, small group size in the classrooms,
limited period of stay in school for a few hours & a personal water bottle and snack-box to be
brought by each person. No use of Public transport, well-equipped infirmary to meet all possible
situations in case of Covid & provision of a quarantine room are going to be some of the other
significant arrangements.
In the present scenario, schools would also need to plan for undertaking letters from parents.
These would be to voluntarily send their wards to school, to follow the protocol of thermal
checking, to adhere to the quarantine process in case of need & the assurance to abide by all the
cautions and strict measures enlisted by the school, to collaborate successfully & fight the challenge
as a team. 

3. One of the major tasks is to maintain social distancing, how would that be
ensured? – Edufeed Foundation 

Dr. Anuradha.Govind- Talking about the cautions that our Reopening-SOP talks about, the sanitization and maintenance
of distance hold prime importance. So, all the possible measures would be taken to ensure social
distancing. Staggered attendance by using shifts and alternating roll numbers each day would be
the major part of the social-distancing plan. Prohibition of using public transports is another
potential way to prevent close contact. Besides that, the Floor-signage across campus walking
paths to maintain the 6 feet distance, remodeled seating plan in the classrooms, Deactivation of
common areas, like Library, auditorium, music room, art room etc. Even the playgrounds and
cafeteria would be kept off-access. The meal program will commence once the situation
normalizes. Until then, everyone will bring her/his own water bottle and snack-box. Students will
frequent only the socially distanced classrooms, corridors, washrooms and walking path from
school’s gate to building, under the close observation and monitoring of teachers, floor
supervisors and help-staff.

4. How many students are expected to visit the school after they reopen? – Edufeed Foundation 

Dr. Anuradha Govind- Though the statistics are showing the down-side, but still a substantial number of covid positive
cases is being reported every day. The vaccine too has a long way to go. Due to these
apprehensions, a hundred percent turnout is certainly not being expected in the beginning. But
we are certain that the majority will come and attend the sessions in school, keeping the
significance of the CBSE Board Exams into consideration. As a matter of fact, the students, very
importantly need to be prepared & ready to ace their practical exams, soon to commence in
March 2021.
Understanding the need of the hour & experiencing the buzz around reopening, consequently,
the apprehensive ones would also gain confidence and would feel assured enough to rejoin. I am
quite optimistic about all of the students rejoining within the first month of reopening, once the
complete functioning of schools gets revoked.
‘There are two phases in every crisis – the one where you manage it & the other where you learn
from it. To succeed, you have to do both’. I hope to see the children, parents, teachers, leaders
and in n fact everyone to be wiser, more patient, kind and mindful on the other side of this CoronaTunnel.