Inadequate safety facilities In Assam: Dr. Jnanendra Nath Sharma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With the existing infrastructures and facilities in schools (both government and private) across Assam, it might be a blunder in case the State Government goes ahead to reopen educational institutions even in phased manner without waiting for invention of a vaccine against COVID-19 and effective treatment.

"If the schools are re-opened at this critical juncture of active spread of the virus, all measures to prevent spread of the virus should be strictly followed among students as well as between teachers and students. This will not be possible with the existing infrastructure in any school. Strict maintenance of the scientifically-evolved preventive measures will not be possible in the class rooms as well as in the transport vehicles," Dr. Jnanendra Nath Sharma, former Head of the Department of Pediatrics, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) said.

Dr Sharma, who has authored several books in different languages on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of children, told The Sentinel that it is very difficult to say when it will be right and safe to reopen schools because experts all over the world have not been able to tell unequivocally when the spread will stop or slow down.

"It is too early to confidently declare anything because COVID-19 is a new virus for the world. There are many aspects still unknown about the characteristics and behavior of this virus," he said, adding that under such circumstances one should not take the risk of allowing children to go to schools.

According to Dr Sharma, missing classes even for this entire year will not harm children in any way. On the contrary, they will gain. He said there are four types of intelligence which needs to be developed in a child: Intelligent Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), Social Quotient (SQ) and Adversary quotient (AQ).

"Most schools today capitalize in improving the IQ level while EQ and SQ are played down. And parents have been rather compelled to adopt the same mentality. If the parents have not started developing all the 4Qs, it is time to take the chance of the lockdown period and start now. Expose the children to other areas of life more than academics. Try to develop their EQ, SQ, and AQ. They should become multifaceted human beings who are able to do things in life independently of the parents," Dr Sharma said.

Advocating the age-old statement — 'Prevention is better than cure', Dr Sharma said there is an urgent need for a vaccine to prevent a COVID-19 pandemic in future. "At present, the only way is to follow the preventive measures and stop spread of the disease. The schools should not reopen until a suitable atmosphere returns. The students should be promoted to the higher class without an examination except for the 10th and 12th classes," he suggested. 

Also Watch: Boycott Made in China Slogan Gets Louder in Guwahati