Education group flags public concerns over back-to-school plans in COVID-19 era

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 08 Jul 2020

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG
8 July, Sittwe

Ahead of a planned return to the classroom for high schoolers on July 21, the National Network for Education Reform (NNER) has highlighted public concerns that have arisen as coronavirus infections continue to rise in Myanmar and across the globe.

The NNER released a statement on July 7 noting that parents, teachers, students and others had a variety of opinions, concerns and criticisms regarding the Ministry of Education’s decision to open schools later this month amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NNER surveyed what education stakeholders and the broader public wanted to know about the government’s preparations ahead of the resumption of classes, the statement said.

Among other questions, respondents wanted to know how conditions at Myanmar’s schools compared with their counterparts in other countries; measures to prevent spread and respond to any viral outbreak; alterations to instructional methods and curricula; other risks associated with COVID-19; and what post-pandemic schooling would look like, the NNER said.

Myanmar normally starts a new academic year in the first week of June, but this year students will return more than a month later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Education has announced that it plans a phased resumption of classes, starting with high schoolers’ return.

Preventative equipment will be supplied for teachers and students, and separate morning and evening sessions will be arranged for schools with large numbers of students.

Schools that were being used as quarantine centres have been disinfected.

The national tally of COVID-19 cases was reported to be 317 as of July 8, with six dead, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.