Living amidst what is potentially one of the most powerful menaces in our lifetime after World War II, the COVID-19 pandemic once again displays the interconnected nature of our world. This pandemic is much larger than a health crisis and is an unprecedented socio-economic crisis. It strains each one in every nation it touches and embodies the sinister potential to generate crushing social, economic, and political effects that leave deep and longstanding scars. On the other side, it unfailingly fills each one with the reasonable certainty that no one is safe until everyone is safe.
The history of the epidemic is verifiably repeating its past. The epidemic that shook humanity a century ago affected one-third of the world population, stealing over five crore precious lives. Incidentally, the growth of science has rendered immense relief to humankind. At present, the explosive population growth poses a different breed of a challenge as this epidemic cannot be prevented by the limited resource of health workers. Each one must mandatorily line up with the health workers. Sadly, the role of teachers and educational institutions in this long-drawn battle is less discussed. It may not be about directly attending to the patients, but more about being able to act as a second front. There are innumerable contradictory and disturbing myths, rumours, and facts about the disease in wide circulation. This unapproved transmission of misconception and partial-truths in the society has led to the transformation of even immunization centres into centres of transmission.
Teachers, up on whom people immensely invest their trust and respect, can sprightly act as the deterrent forces in these testing times. Teachers must take the lead role in dispelling the misconceptions that haunt society by bringing the honest, scientific, and reliable information to the forefront. Experts are cocksure that the corona threat is not in a mood to subside in the near future. We must master the art of distancing from it while simultaneously living with it.
Immunizations are not intensely meant to prevent the second wave we are currently experiencing. Covid reports are once again proving that the only way to survive the second wave is to maintain social distancing and personal hygiene as well as the infrequent shutdowns. Careful and rigorous complying with the standards set by the government and health workers is the ultimate call of the day. But closure cannot continue as the only way to prevent this disease. Its impact on other areas such as education, manufacturing, trade, and commerce is enormous.
Education and health.
Proper education and planning are the first stepping stones towards the design of a healthy society. A vivid vision of how we can harness the potentials of the variant sectors of society defines the range of our success in times of crisis. Given the current emergency situation, three questions must circumvent in our minds.
- How does the second wave of the pandemic differ from the first wave.
- What all precautions everyone should subscribe to for self-protection?
- How can the real facts about this disease be made open to instill both alertness and confidence in the confused society?
Teachers and educational institutions should take the initiative in this direction. At the same time, the concept of a healthy society should be recognized as the primary goal of education. It demands some mandatory modifications in the existing curriculum. A scholarly reflection on education and its practical implementation is urgently necessitated, based on the past year’s experience. Let’s raise the following introspective queries. a) Is education only about somehow mechanically completing the syllabus, conducting the exams, and providing promotions? b) How can we effectively deal with the child’s physical, mental, and social urges? c) Is it possible to bring back, at least on an experimental basis, the models of the neighbouring and miniature education system (hailed as the Beautiful Tree by Mahatmaji) instead of the educational institutions where thousands of students throng together?
Social distancing, immaculate hygiene habits, proper wearing of a quality mask, avoidance of travel to contact areas, enhancement of immunity, and time-bound vaccination as per government scheme are urgently begged for towards the sustenance of a healthy community. At the same time, we must insistently follow a balanced and nutritious diet, stay away from unhealthy fast-food habits, and incorporate common vegetables, leafy greens, legumes, fruits, and small fish into the diet plan. Regular exercise, such as aerobics, can do some great miracles. Controlling diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure should remain a priority. We must invariably maintain mental, intellectual, and spiritual health along with physical health. Habits such as reading good books, enjoying music, engaging in recreation, practicing yoga, and finding time for meditation, prayer, and service-volunteer activities can keep you rejuvenated and optimistic. Thus, the covid period also presents the necessity of implementing an integrated plan that converges the health and education sectors.
What can the teachers do?
Treatment and therapeutic remedy are the responsibilities of the system, which includes doctors and health workers. But the teaching community can impact an immeasurable contribution to awareness and prevention campaign that no one else can simulate in the same dimension. Teachers can efficaciously educate the community on covid disease, the spread of covid, care, self-care, food habits, post-covid care, and vaccination. The competency they have acquired in handling information technology tools and gadgets in the past year are unprecedented.
Teachers can genuinely engage in teleconsultation, i.e., clearing the doubts on staying at home, diagnosing the condition, providing direct counselling, and helping to provide facilities for intensive care. Another feasible domain of active engagement is tele-counselling, where they may talk to the patients and their families and help them with thick confidence and fast recovery. Teachers can suggest good books for reading and share good experiences if needed to alleviate the patients’ traumatic stay, which will cut down the professional burden of the psychologists and health professionals.
A.Vinod karuvarakundu is Member National Monitoring Committee for Education, SC, ST, PWSN & Minority, MHRD, Govt. of India and Secretary, Madhava Ganitha Kendram
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