Closing schools to force parents to work from home was simply wrong, says union
2 years, 5 months ago

Closing schools to force parents to work from home was simply wrong, says union

NL Times  

The second coronavirus-related school closures in the Netherlands in mid-December 2020 caused “confusion and frustration among parents” because the Cabinet said the closures were to let parents work from home, not to protect the children, the Dutch Safety Board said in its second coronavirus report on Wednesday. “This report confirms that the school closures were also taken to force parents to work from home,” AOb chairman Tamar van Gelder said. The Safety Board said that it is still unclear whether the school closures had any effect on the spread of the coronavirus, NU.nl reported. “But then the threat must be serious.” Instead of closing schools, the government could have made it mandatory for parents to work from home if their profession allowed it, the Safety Board said.

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History of this topic

School absences doubled as ‘knock-on’ effect of pandemic lockdowns – report
6 months, 3 weeks ago

School absences doubled as ‘knock-on’ effect of pandemic lockdowns – report

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy School absence rates in the UK doubled from pre-pandemic levels …

School closures: What the data really say about their cost.
1 year, 3 months ago

School closures: What the data really say about their cost.

Slate  

The headlines were alarming. Yet somehow, the conservative National Review turned this into “If you want to know why your children are in Zoom school, look to your local teachers’ union.” Many on the right were undoubtedly sincerely concerned about the teen mental health crisis, the decline in test scores, and the growth of the gap in academic skills between …

Parents no longer think children must be in school every day post-Covid – report
1 year, 6 months ago

Parents no longer think children must be in school every day post-Covid – report

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Post-Covid, parents no longer felt that to be the case, and instead view attending …

Parents told ‘don’t worry’ as schools forced to close over crumbling concrete
1 year, 6 months ago

Parents told ‘don’t worry’ as schools forced to close over crumbling concrete

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Parents have …

Ministers were warned that suicide would kill more children than Covid
1 year, 8 months ago

Ministers were warned that suicide would kill more children than Covid

The Telegraph  

The Government was warned that more children would die from suicide than from Covid-19 before they ordered damaging school closures, a report by parent campaigners has found. A joint briefing paper by the Department for Education and the Independent Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours warned in November 2020 that “many more children will die from suicide than Covid-19 this …

Pupils more likely to miss school on Fridays since the pandemic, MPs told
2 years ago

Pupils more likely to miss school on Fridays since the pandemic, MPs told

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We’ve had evidence from kids: ‘Well, you know mum and dad are at home, …

Will Schools and Colleges be Closed Due to Covid-19?
2 years, 2 months ago

Will Schools and Colleges be Closed Due to Covid-19?

News 18  

Recently, a lot many news and screenshots are going viral on social media, in which it is being told that all the schools will remain closed for the next 20 days. PIB tweeted that the news of the issuance of the government order to close the schools and colleges is completely false. “Many news are being shared on social media …

Warning children will be ‘lost outside system’ as homeschooling soars after pandemic
2 years, 2 months ago

Warning children will be ‘lost outside system’ as homeschooling soars after pandemic

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Children’s commissioner …

Column: Closing schools in the pandemic was bad. Keeping them all open would have been worse
2 years, 4 months ago

Column: Closing schools in the pandemic was bad. Keeping them all open would have been worse

LA Times  

A pupil at Weaverville Elementary School in Weaverville, Calif., works on a classroom assignment in March 2021, when rural schools remained open despite the pandemic. The question that never gets raised, much less answered, when the conversation turns to how bad the school closures were, is: “Compared to what?” “What would have happened had schools remained open without any mitigation …

Online school put US kids behind. Some adults have regrets.
2 years, 5 months ago

Online school put US kids behind. Some adults have regrets.

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Vivian Kargbo thought her daughter’s Boston school district was doing the right thing when officials kept classrooms closed for most students for more than a year. “It is very easy with hindsight to say, ‘Oh, learning loss, we should have opened.’ People forget how many people died,” said Austin Beutner, former superintendent in Los Angeles, where students were …

Report finds reception children have fallen behind due to Covid-19 disruption
2 years, 10 months ago

Report finds reception children have fallen behind due to Covid-19 disruption

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. When children returned to our nursery after the pandemic, many struggled with vital aspects …

Mandate COVID Vaccination for Adults, Don’t Make School-going Children a Scapegoat
2 years, 11 months ago

Mandate COVID Vaccination for Adults, Don’t Make School-going Children a Scapegoat

News 18  

Schooling has been a matter of enthusiastic, and often passionate, debate since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. The second cause of worry is the assumption that with schools being open, children would infect each other and spread it to their teachers or carry it home and infect the adults, especially the grandparents who we do know have a higher …

What About Kids at Malls & Functions, Ask Experts as Rising Covid Cases Bring Back School Closure Demand
2 years, 11 months ago

What About Kids at Malls & Functions, Ask Experts as Rising Covid Cases Bring Back School Closure Demand

News 18  

With a rise in the number of school-going children catching coronavirus in India, especially in Delhi and neighbouring areas, the demand to shut schools and cancel exams is back. The virus spread irrespective of opening of schools,” believes Naman Jain, Education Expert and Director, Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad, who is currently running the school in accordance with strict Covid-19 protocol. …

State schools need our urgent attention
3 years ago

State schools need our urgent attention

Hindustan Times  

Close to four million students shifted to State-run schools in 2020-21, according to the Union ministry of education’s Unified District Information System for Education report. The report shows that the bulk of the drop in the enrolment from pre-primary to Class 12 was found in the early classes and that nearly 75% of schools did not have internet facilities and …

School closure affecting kids’ health, say medical experts
3 years, 1 month ago

School closure affecting kids’ health, say medical experts

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: With schools reopening on Tuesday, medical experts are divided on whether the timing was right given the ground-realities. Secretary of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics Dr E. Arjun, from Apoorva hospital, said the academy was in favour of resuming classes as the health issues they are prone to by being at home were worse than the risk of contracting …

School reopening pressure mounts on governments
3 years, 2 months ago

School reopening pressure mounts on governments

India Today  

Covid-19 pandemic doesn't seem to end. The union government is working on a model for staggered opening of schools for physical classes following all Covid-19 related protocols, sources said on Thursday. Parents demanding schools to reopen "As parents have been demanding the opening of schools, the union government is working on a model for staggered opening of schools following all …

Keep schools open, children can't wait: UNICEF
3 years, 2 months ago

Keep schools open, children can't wait: UNICEF

India Today  

Keep schools open amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said an official statement released by UNICEF. Also, World Bank's Global Education Director Jaime Saavedra said that there is no justification now for keeping schools closed in view of the pandemic and even if there are new waves, closing schools should be the last resort, according to the UNICEF Recommendations to reopen schools …

Centre likely to issue advisory on reopening schools soon: Sources
3 years, 2 months ago

Centre likely to issue advisory on reopening schools soon: Sources

India TV News  

With the COVID-19 vaccination drive for children aged 15 gathering pace, the Centre is likely to issue an advisory soon to reopen schools across the country. Sources have told ANI that, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has asked the National Expert Group to suggest ways and work on modalities to open schools nationwide. Top sources have also told ANI that …

UP schools to remain closed till February 15 to contain Covid spread
3 years, 2 months ago

UP schools to remain closed till February 15 to contain Covid spread

Hindustan Times  

All schools will remain closed in Uttar Pradesh till February 15 for physical classes, to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, an official order issued by the state government said. Uttar Pradesh extends closure of schools till February 15. Online classes will continue as usual in view of the upcoming secondary board examinations, announced Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary …

Will consider demand for school reopening in 10-15 days: Maharashtra health minister
3 years, 2 months ago

Will consider demand for school reopening in 10-15 days: Maharashtra health minister

India Today  

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday the demand for reopening of schools in Maharashtra will be considered after the next 10-15 days in light of students suffering education loss and the low incidence of Covid-19 infection in children. Speaking to reporters, the health minister said, "Demands are rising from certain quarters for reopening of schools as children are …

No justification now for keeping schools closed in view of COVID-19: World Bank Education Director
3 years, 2 months ago

No justification now for keeping schools closed in view of COVID-19: World Bank Education Director

The Hindu  

There is no justification now for keeping schools closed in view of the pandemic and even if there are new waves, closing schools should be the last resort, according to the World Bank's Global Education Director Jaime Saavedra. Talking about the impact of school closures due to the pandemic in India, Mr. Saavedra said the "impact is more severe than …

'No evidence that reopening schools caused Covid surge': World Bank Education Director
3 years, 2 months ago

'No evidence that reopening schools caused Covid surge': World Bank Education Director

India TV News  

Highlights There is no justification now for keeping schools closed in view of pandemic: World Bank official There is no relation between opening schools and spread of coronavirus, he said. There is no justification now for keeping schools closed in view of the pandemic and even if there are new waves, closing schools should be the last resort, according to …

Covid 19: Schools closed upto class 10, night curfew timings revised in UP
3 years, 2 months ago

Covid 19: Schools closed upto class 10, night curfew timings revised in UP

India TV News  

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday issued fresh Covid guidelines in the state in light of rising cases. The government has also said that all districts upon crossing 1,000 Covid cases will have to shut down cinema halls, gyms, spas and banquet halls. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma Tuesday said the state government is already prepared to …

Plans ‘being drawn up by schools to remain closed after New Year’
3 years, 3 months ago

Plans ‘being drawn up by schools to remain closed after New Year’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that …

Primary schools set to close early, evening lockdown to run to January 14: NOS
3 years, 3 months ago

Primary schools set to close early, evening lockdown to run to January 14: NOS

Dutch News  

Prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge are expected to announce that primary schools will close on Friday for the winter break at Tuesday evening’s press conference, Dutch media report. The government’s Outbreak Management Team recommended closing primary schools early because youngsters currently account for the largest share of new infections. In addition, the recommendation that individual …

Primary schools set to close early, evening lockdown to run to January 14: NOS
3 years, 3 months ago

Primary schools set to close early, evening lockdown to run to January 14: NOS

Dutch News  

Prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge are expected to announce that primary schools will close on Friday for the winter break at Tuesday evening’s press conference, Dutch media report. The government’s Outbreak Management Team recommended closing primary schools early because youngsters currently account for the largest share of new infections. In addition, the recommendation that individual …

Lockdown extension, school closures likely announced in Covid press conference tonight
3 years, 3 months ago

Lockdown extension, school closures likely announced in Covid press conference tonight

NL Times  

In a press conference on Tuesday evening, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge will announce what the coronavirus restrictions will look like over the holiday period. Only drug stores and supermarkets can remain open until 8:00 p.m. Netherlands residents are also urged not to receive more than four visitors per day. Before the press conference …

Schools will remain open, but cafes and theatres face early closure, leaks suggest
3 years, 4 months ago

Schools will remain open, but cafes and theatres face early closure, leaks suggest

Dutch News  

Speculation is mounting about what the government plans to do to contain the spread of coronavirus, but it now seems likely that schools will remain open. Both broadcasters NOS and RTL, and the AD newspaper, say schools will not close but will face extra measures, which could include face masks for older children. Healthcare Health minister Hugo de Jonge said …

Schools will remain open, but cafes and theatres face early closure, leaks suggest
3 years, 4 months ago

Schools will remain open, but cafes and theatres face early closure, leaks suggest

Dutch News  

Speculation is mounting about what the government plans to do to contain the spread of coronavirus, but it now seems likely that schools will remain open. Both broadcasters NOS and RTL, and the AD newspaper, say schools will not close but will face extra measures, which could include face masks for older children. Healthcare Health minister Hugo de Jonge said …

OMT experts say keep schools open but shut shops early: NOS
3 years, 4 months ago

OMT experts say keep schools open but shut shops early: NOS

Dutch News  

Government health advisors have recommended keeping schools and colleges open, despite the surge in coronavirus cases among youngsters, but do say restaurants and non-essential shops should shut once again at 5pm, sources have told broadcaster NOS. The Outbreak Management Team was asked for its advice ahead of Friday’s press conference, which has been brought forward by a week because of …

OMT experts say keep schools open but shut shops early: NOS
3 years, 4 months ago

OMT experts say keep schools open but shut shops early: NOS

Dutch News  

Government health advisors have recommended keeping schools and colleges open, despite the surge in coronavirus cases among youngsters, but do say restaurants and non-essential shops should shut once again at 5pm, sources have told broadcaster NOS. The Outbreak Management Team was asked for its advice ahead of Friday’s press conference, which has been brought forward by a week because of …

Closing schools again unfairly punishes kids: School leaders
3 years, 4 months ago

Closing schools again unfairly punishes kids: School leaders

NL Times  

While closing schools may help reduce the number of coronavirus infections, it would be terribly unfair to the children, according to primary schools' organization PO-Raad. On Wednesday, the PO-Raad, secondary schools' organization VO-Raad, university association VSNU, and education union AOb called on the Cabinet to prioritize education staff for Covid-19 booster shots. Children's Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer asked the Cabinet to …

Outbreak experts advised keeping schools open: report
3 years, 4 months ago

Outbreak experts advised keeping schools open: report

NL Times  

The Outbreak Management Team advised the Cabinet to keep all levels of education open, sources told NOS. While there are many coronavirus infections in schools, the OMT believes the government must do everything in its power to keep the schools open. The PO-Raad, the umbrella organization for primary schools, also urged the Cabinet to keep schools open. New infections have …

Maharashtra Health Dept Gives Nod to Reopening Schools But Not Before Vaccinating Kids
3 years, 4 months ago

Maharashtra Health Dept Gives Nod to Reopening Schools But Not Before Vaccinating Kids

News 18  

Even as demands by parents’ groups grow for the reopening of schools for all classes, the decision about it should be taken within a fortnight. This should happen within a fortnight,” Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope told CNN News18. But, he said that the health department has also added a rider that all children between the age group of 12 …

Prolonged School Closures Due to Covid-19 Pose Threat to Gender Equality: UNSECO
3 years, 4 months ago

Prolonged School Closures Due to Covid-19 Pose Threat to Gender Equality: UNSECO

News 18  

Educational disruption due to prolonged closure of schools across the globe will not only have alarming effects on learning loss but also poses threat to gender equality, a new study by UNESCO has pointed out. The global study titled ”When schools shut: Gendered impacts of COVID-19 school closures” brings to the fore that girls and boys, young women, and men …

Attendance low as students stay home to care for younger siblings
3 years, 5 months ago

Attendance low as students stay home to care for younger siblings

The Hindu  

Many students in upper primary and high schools hailing from lower economic sections of society are not attending physical classes as they are busy taking care of their younger siblings while their parents are at work. There is a lot of damage done by the pandemic, but to prevent more damage, lower primary classes need to be reopened immediately,” he …

Schools need to be reopened in a phased manner with multi-layered Covid mitigation steps: ICMR study
3 years, 6 months ago

Schools need to be reopened in a phased manner with multi-layered Covid mitigation steps: ICMR study

India TV News  

The schools need to be reopened in a phased manner, suggested the Indian Council of Medical Research in its latest study. In the opinion piece that has synthesized scientific evidence from within India and abroad on the justification for reopening of schools, experts said knowing that COVID-19 transmission is an "over-dispersed" phenomenon, testing strategies in schools could serve as key …

Primary schools no longer have to send entire class home after Covid infection
3 years, 6 months ago

Primary schools no longer have to send entire class home after Covid infection

NL Times  

If a child in primary education turns out to have the coronavirus, their whole class no longer has to go home from Monday. However the council, which represents primary schools in the Netherlands, emphasized that schools must receive proper guidance from the GGD in determining who should and should not go home after an infection in the classroom. Over the …

Outbreaks strand some students at home with minimal learning
3 years, 6 months ago

Outbreaks strand some students at home with minimal learning

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Within his first week back at school after a year and a half, 7-year-old Ben Medlin was exposed to a classmate with COVID-19, and he was sent home, along with 7,000 other students in the district, for 14 days of quarantine. As coronavirus outbreaks driven by the delta variant lead districts around the U.S. to abruptly shut …

No scientific body suggests COVID vaccination of kids a condition to reopen schools, says Centre
3 years, 6 months ago

No scientific body suggests COVID vaccination of kids a condition to reopen schools, says Centre

Firstpost  

t a press conference, NITI Aayog member VK Paul said whether children have to be vaccinated and who among them should get the jabs is an evolving scientific and public health discourse. New Delhi: The Union government on Thursday said no scientific body suggests that vaccination of children against COVID-19 should be a condition for reopening schools, but inoculation of …

How school closures have hurt our less fortunate students more
3 years, 6 months ago

How school closures have hurt our less fortunate students more

Live Mint  

With most Indian schools shut for the past year and a half, children from poor households, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, are rapidly forgetting what they had learned before the pandemic, new survey data suggests. Previous surveys during the pandemic have also reported learning setbacks, but the latest one comes at a time when children are preparing to advance two …

Don’t send school classes home over one coronavirus infection, says outbreak expert
3 years, 6 months ago

Don’t send school classes home over one coronavirus infection, says outbreak expert

NL Times  

The Outbreak Management Team advised the Ministry of Health to relax the coronavirus measures for primary education as of September 20. This new school year, the rule still applied that an entire classroom must stay home if one child tested positive for the coronavirus. The OMT stated that the Cabinet can responsibly announce around September 20 that from now on …

India schools cautiously reopen even as COVID warnings grow
3 years, 6 months ago

India schools cautiously reopen even as COVID warnings grow

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More students in India will …

More schools in India cautiously reopen despite COVID fears
3 years, 6 months ago

More schools in India cautiously reopen despite COVID fears

Al Jazeera  

Despite apprehensions from parents, more students step inside a classroom for the first time in nearly 18 months. More students in India have stepped inside a classroom for the first time in nearly 18 months, as authorities give the green light to partially reopen more schools despite apprehension from some parents and signs that infections are picking up again. Others …

Vaccinate teachers, children to keep schools safe from Covid-19: WHO
3 years, 6 months ago

Vaccinate teachers, children to keep schools safe from Covid-19: WHO

India TV News  

As millions of children return to school for the new academic session, vaccinating teachers and other school staff against Covid-19 disease can help make schools a safe place against the infectious disease, the World Health Organisation and Unicef said on Monday. Children aged 12 years and above who have underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk of severe …

Malls Open, Social Gatherings Allowed, Time We Let Children Return to School
3 years, 7 months ago

Malls Open, Social Gatherings Allowed, Time We Let Children Return to School

News 18  

Schools have remained largely closed for 1.5 years even as adults go to work, malls, and social gatherings each time a wave recedes. If asked about opening schools, at one end of the spectrum are parents who say—“I am worried about the third wave targeting children” or “We worry about kids bringing infection home to elders” or the ultimate conversation-stopper …

How kids can stay safer at school despite Delta variant threat
3 years, 7 months ago

How kids can stay safer at school despite Delta variant threat

LA Times  

Despite the threats posed by the Delta variant, there are ways to enhance kids’ safety at school. “Vaccination of all eligible adults and students is the most important strategy for decreasing COVID-19 transmission in schools,” said Dr. Kate Connor, a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “The evidence is strongly supportive that universal masking in schools is one …

What are the risks of kids getting COVID-19 as schools reopen?
3 years, 7 months ago

What are the risks of kids getting COVID-19 as schools reopen?

LA Times  

Julie Silk works with her kindergarten students in the classroom at Jackson STEM Dual Language Magnet Academy in Altadena. Among the nation’s three most populous states, the rate for new daily pediatric hospitalizations for COVID-19 per 100,000 children in Florida is 1.28; in Texas, it’s 0.53; and in California, it’s 0.21. The best way to keep children safe, in schools …

Parents skeptical with school reopening orders
3 years, 7 months ago

Parents skeptical with school reopening orders

India Today  

With the Uttar Pradesh government ordering re-opening of schools from Class 6 onwards from September 1, the parents of the satellite city are skeptical about sending their kids to school. We understand that the studies are getting affected from the online classes and also, the kids are undergoing minimal social and physical activities as the schools are shut but all …

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