School children have “little or no contact” with teachers due to school closures: UNICEF
View(s):In private primary schools in Sri Lanka, 52 per cent of teachers reported contacting their students five days a week, but this number dropped to only eight percent for teachers from public primary schools, a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) report highlighted recently.
The report, based on research conducted in India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Pakistan said that limited access to devices, low connectivity, and limited teacher contacts are severely constraining remote learning in the South Asian region.
“In Sri Lanka, 69 percent of parents of primary school children reported that their children were learning “less” or “a lot less,” the report said.
UNICEF said the surveys also found that most students had little or no contact with their teachers after schools closed.
“The safe re-opening of schools must be considered an utmost priority for all governments. Investing in teachers will ensure that teachers and schools can adapt to all situations.
The more teachers are trained, equipped and supported on distance and blended learning, the better they will be able to reach all their students,” UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia George Laryea-Adjei said in the report.
UNICEF urged the governments to prioritise the safe re-opening of all schools, while also ensuring that children are able to pursue quality learning remotely if necessary.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said plans are going ahead to re-open schools in the next two weeks with priority given to schools with a student population below 200.
Minister Rambukwella said re-opening dates will be decided by the Education Ministry while health related guidelines will be issued by the Health Ministry.
“Re-opening of pre-schools and classes below grade six will also be given priority when re-opening schools. There are about 5000 schools with less than 200 students. These schools will be re-opened first. Principals and teachers are fully vaccinated. We are also in the process of vaccinating those involved in transporting students,” he said. (NF)