HT Dialogues: Experts discuss the challenges of reopening schools

Students’ mental and emotional health, learning gaps, knowledge retention are the areas of concern.

Focus on mental health, continued learning in blended modes, smoother transition from online to offline learning and enforcing safety measures stringently were among concerns discussed by principals, parents, and teachers during the HT Dialogues session on Thursday which focused on reopening of schools post pandemic.

Clockwise from top left: HT Political Editor Sunetra Choudhary, Johannes Burgers, Jyoti Arora, Kavita Aggarwal, Neeraj Sharma and Roma Das during the HT Dialogues session on Thursday

The session was attended by Jyoti Arora, Principal, Mount Abu Public School Sector 5, Delhi; Dr. Kavita Aggarwal, Director and Head, D.G. Khetan International School , Malad West, Mumbai; Roma Das, Associate Principal, Mount Carmel School, Delhi; Johannes Burgers, Assistant Professor of English & Digital Humanities, Ashoka University and Neeraj Sharma, parent of a student at St. Mark’s Girls Sr Sec School, Delhi. Hindustan Times’’ political editor Sunetra Choudhary was the moderator. While schools were shut following the nationwide lockdown, since January this year schools reopened for senior students in many states. Parents like Sharma raised concerns over addressing the mental health condition of children.

“The period of uncertainty took a toll on children. So, it is not just upgrading infrastructure for classes but schools have to deal with learning gaps and the social and emotional well-being of children,” said Arora.