Considering scientific rationale and the benefits and risks, the functioning of schools needs to be delinked from Graded Response Action Plan measures
इन थिस आर्टिकल -
- यह घटना किस चीज की याद दिलाता है ?
- But rethink this offline to online
- कुछ प्रश्न जो यहां खड़े होते हैं ???
- Poor air quality needed mask
- क्या क्या किया जाने की जरुरत है ?
Schools are switching from physical to online mode.
यह घटना किस चीज की याद दिलाता है ?
stark reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic period, schools in Delhi State, in mid-November 2024 — as a part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle air pollution, which is triggered when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is “poor” — had been asked to switch from physical to online mode.
But rethink this offline to online
decision to switch schools to online mode needs to be examined for its scientific rationale, practicability, and benefits and risks.
Poor air quality in many north Indian States is harmful for any age group and not just children.
The harmful health effects of poor air quality are on a continuum from the moment the AQI crosses normal range.
Children (and everyone in any age group) should be protected from poor air quality the moment the AQI crosses 50, which is considered ‘good’ air quality by Indian norms.
कुछ प्रश्न जो यहां खड़े होते हैं ???
पूरे साल एकसा रहेगा अब क्या करें ?
However, there are only a few days in a year when the AQI is within acceptable limits. In 2024, till now, there has not been even a single day with ‘good’ air quality in Delhi; there was just one such ‘good’ air quality day in 2023.
Alongside, it is naive / wrong to believe that an AQI that is more than 400 (classified as ‘severe’ or ‘severe plus’) is harmful and anything below this is not.
घर के अंदर भी ख़राब और स्कूल में भी ख़राब ही होना हवा ?
importantly, most children in Delhi or other parts of the country are likely to have the same air quality inside their homes or in their schools.
कहीं कहीं घर से ज़्यादा स्कूल में बेहतर हवा ?
For some underprivileged children, air quality in the classroom might be better than at home as many schools have air purifiers.
disadvantage of learning loss and nutritional loss
The idea of having online classes due to poor AQI puts all children at an
- additional disadvantage of learning loss and
- nutritional loss (as many children get mid-day meals in schools),
- no respite from the health impact.
only beneficiaries here are EdTech platforms and Apps
It is widely known that online classes are not a replacement for school-based learning and the only beneficiaries here are EdTech platforms and Apps.
exposed to more harmful behaviour changes in young boys girls
Therefore, when they are forced to attend online classes, they are being exposed to more harmful behaviour than receiving any possible or perceived benefit.
children read not only books; there is life learning.
In the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us have learnt that schools are not the places where children read only books; there is life learning.
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The oversold idea of face masks
Poor air quality needed mask
GRAP stages III and IV की कंडीसन में भी आप मास्क पहन कर आ सकते हैं
१ Poor air quality nearly always brings up the issue of face masks. Even before GRAP stages III and IV recommended the suspension of physical classes, a few schools sent out advisories to parents that children should wear face masks in order to attend schools.
२ लेकिन सबको पहनना पड़े यह जरुरी नहीं है
- such advisories from schools became an ‘informal mandate’ for children and parents. Such a uniform advisory for all children to wear a face mask is not fully backed by science.
- As far as children are concerned, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, masks were not recommended for children who were younger than five years for various scientific reasons and utilising empirical data. For those between six to 11 years, masks were advised (and not mandated).
३ बिना मेडिकल एक्सपर्ट के सही नहीं हैं ये गाइडलाइन
Therefore, schools should refrain from issuing such advisories, which should come only after guidance from medical experts.
Adopt a science-based approach
क्या क्या किया जाने की जरुरत है ?
First, प्रदुषण का कोई भी लेवल आ जाये ,ऑनलाइन मोड में जाने की जरुरत नहीं
The focus should be on keeping the school functional and ensuring learning continuity.
This could be done with some mitigants such as completely halting all outdoor activities in schools when the AQI is poor.
personal protective measures
such as the use of purifiers and face masks, taking into account recommendations by age, and pre-existing health issues.
pre-existing respiratory health issue
Those who have any pre-existing respiratory health issue are likely to benefit more from mask wearing, specifically in a polluted and open space.
Second आपको वही करना है जो आप घर में कर रहे .
Schools are not the source of pollution. Arguably, air quality in schools is similar to the homes of children.
Therefore, it does not make any sense to do anything differently in school than what is done at home.
So, if children and parents wear a face mask at home, they can wear it at school as well.
Else, no additional mandatory mask wearing measure is needed.
associated risks
There is a need to remember that face masks can also have negative effects such as causing a skin allergy and other discomforts.
बिना मेडिकल सलाह के मत बोलिये
Also, except for medical recommendations, children younger than 12 years should not be made to wear N95 masks. During periods of severe or above AQI,
‘opt-out’ option from physical classes
children who have pre-existing health issues or any other parents who wish to keep their children at home, should be given an ‘opt-out’ option from physical classes, and the rest of the children should have the opportunity for learning continuity.
Third यदि स्कूल में functional air purifiers है तो मास्क की जरुरत नहीं
in schools or other settings which have functional air purifiers, mask wearing is not going to provide any additional advantage.
ensuring that the classroom doors and windows are closed properly and switching on air purifiers at least an hour before children arrive would ensure ‘good’ quality air.
Fourth, ‘online schooling’ is an oxymoron ऐसा वाक्यांश जिसके दोनों शब्द विपरीत या विरोधी अर्थ वाले हैं —
कुछ स्कुल क्यों हाइब्रिड में जा रहे
there are other reasons such as foggy or cold winter days, which many schools exercise as a reason for switching to online or hybrid classes.
These should be actively discouraged and teaching should be in physical mode for all parents, who are willing.
in future, if and when the government or any authority fails children by passing an order to switch to online classes, the management in every school needs to come up with innovative approaches to ensure that learning is not in front of a mobile or computer screen.
Fifth, जिसकी जयदा हालत गंभीर है उसको जयदा केयर की जरुरत
poor air quality is a reminder that anyone who has pre-existing health or respiratory conditions should take better care of their health.
This means having a routine checkup and a regular follow-up visit with health-care providers.
Preventive interventions
such as annual influenza vaccination or age-appropriate recommended vaccines like pneumococcal, measles, Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) are administered to those who need it.
Policy must be people-centric
Schools are not the source of air pollution. Rather, there is far greater loss than benefit from school closure.
While there are valid reasons for implementing other measures under GRAP to improve the AQI, closing schools for physical classes makes the least sense.
It has happened for the last eight years, but now is the time that school functioning is delinked from GRAP measures.
Nelson Mandela had said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
When it comes to handling air quality and the functioning of schools, Indian States and society seem to be failing in their responsibility and their duties.
Source the hindu
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