School and shopping in Nagaland in times of COVID
Louise Shishak
Chümoukedima
As a teacher and a parent I applaud the Nagaland schools as they struggle to provide ongoing education to the young of our land but request the Nagaland authorities to stop sending mixed messages. COVID has claimed lives and surely we need to protect our vulnerable. But there seems to be little expectation for health advice to be followed unless you are in school, which is very confusing.
Schools have created new ways to connect, using WhatsApp and internet amidst the challenges of inadequate networks, phones but no computers, and homes that struggle with English. We are encouraged as physical classes are now permitted for Class 6 and above. However it is unclear why the lower classes, the crucial foundation of our education remain closed, even as students and teachers dedicate themselves to respond to the recommended health advisory.
The reality of what society expects of us when shopping makes this closure of school more frustrating. Social distance there is not important, occasional handwashing may be possible and mask wearing if you really think it’s needed. Yet many shopkeepers freely chat and serve customers maskless. So is COVID still a serious enough threat to continue to shut down our schools? If yes, what about the rest of society? Yes, advice is there for smaller gatherings and mask wearing but we keep seeing photos in the paper of groups of people without masks. How can we as teachers or citizens respond to a selective enforcement of health advisory?
It is a great concern that there is such an extreme disconnect between school and society. It seems unfair and unreasonable that our youngest and least contagious remain out of school, whilst society is allowed to act as if there is no big problem. We all have a part to play in this fight against COVID, but would seek more clarity and direction from our leaders on how the fight will go forward. Currently, it is the least privileged children that are losing out the most, and our communities’ education seems so much less important than our businesses.
