Covid-19: Guidelines for monitoring the situation once schools open (Part 3)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has offered a number of considerations for the reopening of schools during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Also read: Covid-19: World Health Organisation on reopening of schools (Part 1)

Also read: Covid-19: Education sector advised on hygiene and clean school environments (Part 2)

The guidelines set out by WHO are aimed at supporting policy development and helping decision-makers, educational institutions and caregivers as they seek to do what is best for their children, students and community.

Also read: Covid-19 Lockdown: 7 tips for parents to help them assist their children with schoolwork

In the recently released document, WHO also issued guidelines for monitoring the situation once schools begin to reopen.

As protective school measures are applied, it is important to monitor a range of factors such as:

• Effectiveness of tele-schooling interventions.
• How well has the school been able to develop tele-schooling strategies?
• What proportion of children were reached?
• What is the feedback from students, parents and teachers?
• The effects of policies and measures on educational objectives and learning outcomes.
• The effects of policies and measures on the health and well-being of children, siblings, staff, parents and other family members.
• The trend in school drop out after lifting the restrictions.

Also read: For learners, by learners: what to do while at home during quarantine

Inclusive and early collaboration between the school and the community is needed to develop and implement necessary measures.

It will be important to maintain flexibility and modify approaches as needed, and to ensure learning and sharing of good practices.

Completely closing schools without putting in place context-appropriate distance learning methods, wherever possible, and adaptive strategies to reduce potential harm may not be the best or only solution and should only be considered when alternatives are not available.

Also read:

1. Covid-19 Lockdown: Ponnie from Parenting 101 advises parents on home-schooling (Video)
2. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 2 – Parents need to realise the importance of routine (Video)
3. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 3 – Moodley gives advice on ensuring discipline
4. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 4 – your child’s development
5. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 5 – create an ideal study space for your child
6. Covid-19 Lockdown: Parenting 101 Tip 6 – target the basics and ensure consistency
7. Covid-19 Lockdown Parenting 101 Tip 7 – develop good work ethic

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