AS PART of the fourth phase and the gradual lifting of the health restrictions, public and private schools have resumed classes with all necessary precautions and protection measures in place.
According to the government’s phased-plan approach, only up to 30 percent of students are allowed to physically attend the classes and the rest of the students continue learning online from home.
Therefore each class of students have been divided into groups to attend classes in rotation, with the aim of ensuring the safety of students, staff who have been tested to protect the students and the community as a whole. The government pays high priority to the implementation of the health rules, and authority concerned is arresting people who are violating these regulations. Despite all this, some parents are still a little apprehensive about sending children back to schools.
The recent visit of the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani to three schools to see the preparations made to ensure the safety of children shows how essential is their safety for the country. Ministry of Education and Higher Education officials had reassured parents that all necessary precautions are put in place including tests of all teachers and staff for COVID-19 making all schools ready to receive the children.
For its part, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), has made similar preparations and took all necessary measures in cooperation with PHCC School Health Services and Program (SHSP) and Communicable Diseases Control departments where they have launched together with the ‘School Health Guidance Protocol’.
The aim of the protocol is to reinforce precautionary protective measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 at schools and pave the way for a safe return for students and staff have been trained on how to deal with suspected cases of coronavirus and how to act in such cases. The authorities concerned including the Ministry of Public Health and Education are making continuously close follow-ups and contact the concerned bodies and for this purpose, they have formed a committee to deal with suspected cases and alert the school and its staff.
Therefore parents should not feel anxious and send students to schools, as the health authority has stated that most of the COVID-19 were contracted at homes during social gatherings, not at workplaces or schools. Awareness among families about the virus and the importance of health rules is needed and through the families, children should know what is crucial form their side to curb the spread of the virus.
The essential thing is to adhere to health precautionary measures applied and cooperate with all authorities concerned to make the academic year 2020/2021 successful meeting its educational targets.
