How are special schools preparing for resuming offline learning?
It has been over 2 years since India announced an unprecedented nationwide lockdown in March, 2020 to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence, schools in India had been indefinitely closed. The situation brought about many uncertainties and unforeseen challenges in the education of students. However, the protracted lockdown has most adversely affected the educational outcomes of more than 2 million special needs children in India.
According to parents having children with special needs, the school plays a very important role in their lives even beyond academics. These schools cater to the different needs of such children with a scientific approach and in a holistic manner. In addition to the special educators, there are professional therapists on campus who employ different types of therapies to help in the development of special children. Since these could not be done at home, the lockdown period abruptly curtailed the growth of special children.
It is only in the recent months that authorities have prioritised re-opening the schools to bring the education of the students back on track. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a circular to all schools of all streams and media to start full time and in full capacity from March 2, irrespective of the board they are affiliated to.
The special schools in Mumbai of different disabilities like school for autism, have taken all the necessary precautions to welcome the students back to school. The teachers are fully vaccinated, and the students' temperatures are checked before they enter the school. The schools are giving lunch breaks and organising curricular and extracurricular activities like that of pre-pandemic time. Bus services have also resumed. Schools for special children are taking consent from the parents for functioning in the manner similar to pre-pandemic times.
While discussing school safety to prevent any spread of the pandemic, it is important to deliberate upon not only the safe reopening of schools, but also on innovative mechanisms required for delivering education to the vulnerable and at-risk children in our society.
Special schools in Mumbai are giving due consideration in collecting information about the issues faced by children with disabilities during the lockdown period, which may have led to some students dropping out, or delays or regression in their learning. This information is going to help the schools anticipate and plan for supporting measures for children with disabilities. Schools are conducting regular check-ins with students and their parents in this transition phase for all students. They are also ensuring that assessments are accessible and appropriate.
Some children with disabilities may belong to high-risk health groups. Therefore, it may not be possible for them to return immediately to the schools on a full-time basis. Schools are ensuring that such students continue to be supported via flexible distance or part-time learning measures. Additionally, their return-to-school process is planned in consultation with the family and teaching staff.
The lockdown period has ushered in additional unanticipated scenarios. Being away from friends and surrounded by family for such an extended period may have caused friendships among children to change or weaken, which means there will be uncertainty in their social behaviour. Additionally, children with specific impairments may have regressed in their learning or interpersonal skills, which will contribute to feelings of stress in them after returning to the school environment. Schools are also ensuring that teaching staff are prepared to address these concerns either within the classroom or directly with the family members of the students.
Clear and adapted guidelines are given for social distancing and personal protection measures for staff providing physical assistance to students with disabilities such as using washroom or moving around the school.
Schools are establishing regular opportunities to meet with families after they return to school.
The vibrant smiles on the faces of these students after returning to school have made us realize the importance of schools in the life of these students.
Also read,
How To Prepare Students For The Transition From Online To Offline In Special Needs School?
