IS OPENING OF SCHOOLS A GOOD DECISION?

Madam, 

The coronavirus is one major pandemic and natural disaster to have stigmatised the entire globe since the Noah ark incidence. The spread of the virus is much faster that the sale of hot cakes and this has led to a majority of countries in the world to close schools to curb the spread of the virus. The biggest question is what forced the Government of Eswatini to reopen schools? When the prime minister announced the closure of schools, I applauded the decision as it was aimed at protecting people’s lives. The virus is still a problem as the number of new cases keeps escalating.

I was one of those who were calling for the reopening of schools not because I was prioritizing education over health but it is also a fact that the virus is here to stay, so if we prolong the reopening of schools, when should they be reopened? Since the closure of schools I was hoping that government was working on the issue of how and when to reopen schools. But I was shocked when government ordered the reopening without providing teachers and pupils with protective clothing. How will checking the pupils’ temperature at the gates help in maintaining their health? The screening at the gates is of no use because the pupils will not be able to behave accordingly when inside the school premises. If government was still not ready to reopen schools, then why did it do it? Kenya decided to reopen schools in 2021, why didn’t we do the same because it’s clear we are not ready in terms of safety and resources?

It was mention that the available quarantine centres are already packed, so where will people go if the reopening schools comes with an increase in positive cases? And where will the resources to cater for them come from, since government is already down on its knees financially? I think government must revoke its decision and close schools again. Education is a necessity but health should always come first. In conclusion I encourage the entire nation to be safe from the virus by observing all the required health measures and regulations.

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