High time

High time

It’s time to take a leaf out of Kerala’s book to take steps to nurture our next generation.

Come November 1 and schools and colleges in Kerala would reopen after a 21-month hiatus caused by COVID-19. November 1 assumes significance as it was on this day in 1956 that the State came into existence following the merger of Travancore, Kochi and Malabar. This is the longest ever closedown seen in the educational sector of the State known more for its militant trade unionism and student agitation. The LDF Government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been doubly cautious about announcing the lifting of lockdown in schools and colleges because of the ‘once bitten twice shy’ syndrome experienced by the State. Vijayan had declared on May 8, 2020, that Kerala had become COVID-free, thanks to the State’s well-functioning health sector. However, within weeks, the pandemic returned with renewed potency and caused devastating havoc by claiming nearly 25,000 lives. This time round, the State administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure student safety. The bio-bubble scheme under the Government’s consideration envisages three offline classes and an equal number of online classes for each batch of students. Only those parents who are confident of the cleanliness of the schools need send their wards for physical classes. The rest could continue with the on-line sessions which are in vogue now.

Another Government initiative is the de-addiction centres planned across the State to ensure that students do not fall to drugs. Narcotics smugglers are out in the open across the State and schools and colleges are on their target. Since the lockdown was slapped in the State, another social evil in the name of online games has hit Kerala. This has resulted in suicides by students and parents, who were left in financial distress. Vijayan said that all police inspectors have been instructed to establish close rapport with head masters and parent teachers’ associations to save students from drug pushers and online gaming operators. The State also saw some students resorting to the extreme measure of suicide because of mental agony arising out of the absence of peer company. The partial opening of schools is expected to go a long way in resolving the issue while the students have to be trained to face the changed lifestyle as they emerge from COVID-19. Life will not be the same anywhere in India and Gen-Next should be warned about the ground reality. This step should be replicated across India.