Tabassum argues in favour of the government’s decision to keep educational institutions closed in the light of a new variant, Delta Plus, spreading fast. There are some people who are opposing this move of the government. A report exclusively for Different Truths.
According to the famous 18th-century English novelist Jane Austen, the term ‘sense’ is practical, intellectual, and logical. In Austen’s time, ‘sensibility’ was closer to what we would call ‘sensitivity’. The term is attributed to emotional, sensitive and wrapped up by feelings and emotions. In the novel, Sense and Sensibility, the term ‘sense’ refers to being practical, rational, and reasonable and like a responsible and careful character, Marianne. In contrast, Elinor is driven by emotion and being careless, irresponsible, and not thinking about the consequences. Recently, we have seen many groups being very vocal about reopening the schools and educational institutions. How much ‘sense’ do they carry and oppose the government’s decision?
Setting school opening days and increasing the incidence of Covid-19 seems like a sun-rain game. The outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time.
Setting school opening days and increasing the incidence of Covid-19 seems like a sun-rain game. The outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time. As a result, the issue of reopening the school is getting ruined again and again. There is no denying that parents, students and educational institutions have become impatient. The educational institutions have been closed since March 17, 2020.
No one knows at this moment how long the game of this infallible law of nature will last. The vaccination and following Covid-19 health protocols are the only hopes. But the introduction of vaccines for children seems like a long way off.
Despite the current reality of vaccination, not all people over the age of 18 are going to be vaccinated not anytime soon. And bringing children under vaccination is a far cry. It may be noted that China has allowed emergency use of vaccines for children three or older, and clinical trials are underway, including Pfizer. Is there any chance to reassure the children of our country?
According to a study by UNESCO, 16 countries, including Bangladesh, have not reopened the schools, and thus appeared to be less affected by Covid-19.
According to a study by UNESCO, 16 countries, including Bangladesh, have not reopened the schools, and thus appeared to be less affected by Covid-19. However, the health advisors think that Bangladesh will face grave danger to public health if schools are reopened immediately. In 2020 Florida, the USA-based study says that in the USA, schools started to reopen from August 2020 to December 2020. During this time, the students got infected at an alarming rate of 60%. The USA is one of the most affected by Covid-19 countries in the world. The USA citizens have far more developed infrastructures, privileges and vaccination supply than Bangladesh. Some have even argued that Japan closed the schools for two months. Can we compare ourselves to Japan?
Center for Disease Control, USA emphasised the two-way ventilation system in each classroom for the students’ safety. But how many schools in Bangladesh have a two-way ventilation system in each school?
Many voices have given the reasons that there is no effective lockdown.
Many voices have given the reasons that there is no effective lockdown. So, when parents are going out, then why should students stay at home? We know the Delta variant and Delta Plus variant are dangers to the younger ones and Delta Plus variant is transmissible even in fleeting encounters with Covid-19 patients. India has declared Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 as a “variant of concern,” on Tuesday, 22 April 2021. It is a fact, not speculation.
Earlier, some other voices opined that Covid-19 was not as much present in the districts of Bangladesh. But what is the picture now? Covid-19 has spread in the districts. Despite those opinions, the Bangladesh government didn’t reopen the educational institutions. It has proved the profound, careful responsibility, and foresight, in other words, the ‘sense’ of the government.
Covid-19 infection situation is deteriorating in different districts outside Dhaka.
Covid-19 infection situation is deteriorating in different districts outside Dhaka. In this situation, to keep the capital isolated, after the bus and launch, the train movement was stopped this time from Tuesday (22 June 2021). Law and enforcement were on high alert at the entrances of Dhaka on Tuesday to prevent people from entering or leaving the capital. Long-distance and inter-district buses were not allowed to run. The launch did not leave from ghats. Some trains left during the day, which did not stop in the seven districts under lockdown. Then came the announcement at night that rail traffic would also be closed. It has been effective since Tuesday midnight (Wednesday, June 23, 2021).
Other opinions are expressing that the students in remote areas are not getting online education facilities. Bangladesh has a vast number of young internet users. Their presence in social media and in different apps are very much visible. It should be verified whether the students are not getting online education facilities or not. Suppose the online connectivity is there and the students are not getting an online education. In that case, schools, teachers and parents need to clarify the reasons. The students need to answer whether they were spending time on social media, online games, and apps instead of attending online classes.
The university students’ demands and demonstrations to reopen schools, colleges, and universities looked quite careless, as these violated Covid-19 health protocols.
The university students’ demands and demonstrations to reopen schools, colleges, and universities looked quite careless, as these violated Covid-19 health protocols. They stand for ‘sensibility’, as described by Austen. The students are carried away by emotions and have been used by the different invested groups and parties. The students fail to understand that they have been used as baits by these sponsored groups. The government understands their frustration, session jam, mental health issues and the future of the students. But the government’s decision to reopen universities and residential halls after the students’ vaccination is justified and full of ‘sense’ because life is the priority. However, by demonstrating in such ways, the students are endangering themselves and their family members with morbidities and elderly relatives. Some parties are trying to make a hill out of a mole regarding school reopening issues. The question is why they are provoking the students and what are their interests?
An important question needs to be asked. Do the parents want the schools to be reopened when the Delta variant is very much present with rising death tolls, increasing infection rates and without the entire vaccination program running in full swing? Because the government has resumed the vaccination program. The vaccination program had to halt due to the Covid-19 rampage in India who was the sole supplier of the vaccination.
The government has declared that educational institutions will be reopened if the infection rate goes below 5% for three consecutive weeks.
The government has declared that educational institutions will be reopened if the infection rate goes below 5% for three consecutive weeks. Indeed, a decision of “sense”. On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said that a decision regarding SSC and HSC examinations will be announced soon.
The infection rate is 19.36% and the death toll was 78 at the time of writing this article. (Wednesday, June 23, 2021). New lockdowns have been declared in different parts of the country. The daily caseload is rising. Who is responsible for the spike in Covid-19 cases? The ‘sensibilities’ of the people during Ramadan and the Eid festival. The people ignored all kinds of warnings and pleas from the government and health experts not to flock to the shopping malls and not go home to celebrate Eid. These behaviours caused huge gatherings and are the reasons for the recent spike as predicted by health specialists. When the appeals were made, the public response was entirely of an emotional nature. The interviews from the media and print are proof. Some were saying how children will feel if they don’t get new clothes for Eid. Some were saying they need to go home and are ready to be infected by Covid-19.
Two Black Fungus patients have been identified in Dhaka, as reported by Bangladeshi newspapers on May 23, 2021.
Two Black Fungus patients have been identified in Dhaka, as reported by Bangladeshi newspapers on May 23, 2021. On June 17, 2021, Indian print and media reported that three children, 4, 6 and 14 years old, were infected with Black Fungus and had to go through surgery to remove an eye each in Mumbai. These are rare cases but isn’t it to be cautious being with “sense”? And after Black, Yellow and White Funguses, there are reports of the emergence of Green Fungus in India.
It is not unknown to any rational person that the long-term impact of dealing with Covid-19 by keeping the educational institution closed for a long time. But sense must prevail over sensibility. What is the priority? Life and safety or reopening educational institutions considering current situations?
The government has shown ‘sense’ so far as long as it concerns the well-being of the children and youth of Bangladesh. As parents, we need to monitor, model, and mentor our children. Instead of making irresponsible and dangerous demands, we can watch over our children what they are doing on social media and in certain apps like Likee, TikTok, Bigo live, etc. We need to spend time with them and spend less time making reckless demands, propaganda and fake news.
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