Which Is Important To You? Health or School?

There is a continuous debate happening around the world about re-opening of schools this coming fall. Is it safe for our children to return back to school? What’s the rush for? So many questions and some of our leaders are refusing to listen to the experts. I am not sure if people understand that the Pandemic is not over and the number of cases seems to be increasing everyday around the world. We are all tired, drained and want things to get back to normal. However, I hate to be the bearer of bad news here. Things might not get back to normal for a while especially when people are so stubborn, selfish, and are not following the protective measures placed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inorder to combat Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Currently in the United States, the President and his administration insists on re-opening schools this fall. Not just part time, online, but full time. The whole shebang, physically present in school and classroom. In Cameroon, only examination classes in Primary, Secondary and University school students are presently going to school. Now, come September, all schools and pupils from nursery to University level, will start school full time. I do not know about you but if anyone of you are a parent like me, this makes me extremely nervous.

Can we honestly believe that all schools in Cameroon will respectfully obey the protective measures put in place? Everyday? Will teachers be able to monitor all students especially the nursery kids come September? It is easy to monitor the older kids and students but if you have a toddler then you know it will not be easy to keep them away from their friends, let alone keep their face masks on. Majority of these schools in Cameroon, do not even have the capacity to keep the students 2meters away from each other. Most classrooms are congested and poorly ventilated. My toddler is scared of face masks and does not want to put on one. I keep trying and hoping that eventually she will get used to it.

We should all remember that children and teachers currently going to school could be putting their families at home at risk. Not just adults but older children can transmitt the COVID-19 as well. Personally, health and schools are both important, however, it will be wise for our leaders and government to tackle this crisis and find a solution before we can comfortably send our children to school. And no, i am not giving into panic but being realistic about the situation. What is the point of re-opening schools if the number of COVID-19 cases are increasing?