Shillong, Sept 1: The schools in Meghalaya once again came to life as students on Monday sat for classroom teaching after having attended online classes for several months for the second time due to the second wave of COVID-19.
Don Bosco Square, one of the prominent spots at Laitumkhrah having most schools in the city, came alive with students crossing the roads and groups of students discussing their subjects among other things, although in lesser number then pre-Covid days.
Students in the state are now used to wearing a ‘Face Mask’ apart from their uniforms.
Davinson, a class 10 student of Shillong Public School , said it is hard during lockdown with no teachers to teach them since they are left to study on their own. “I am happy that today after many months, I got to meet my friends and also consulted with my teachers about the doubts I had,” said Davinson.
He added that online classes are a barrier with the connectivity issue. The explanation when they get face to face is much more better than online. He added that in a classroom they can point out and explain it on the white board but it’s not the same with online classes.
Echoing the same voice, Kevin Rynjah, a class 12 student of Shillong Public School, said it is difficult to understand the explanation online and for them they can understand better when in the classroom.
“We do get more time, indeed it is an advantage but there are certain disadvantages too. I’m glad that once again the school is open, now we can go and attend classes regularly,” said Rynjah.
Most of the schools witnessed the same schedule of classes starting at 9 am-12 pm.
Rynjah also said that he doesn’t fear coming to school since he has been fully vaccinated.
S Kharmih, a student at St Anthony’s School, said she has not been vaccinated since she is not eligible. “I feel blessed since it is an opportunity to get back to class and clarify my doubts with the teachers. Online classes was not that hard. I was able to manage but coming to school is better. Hoping things will come to normal,” she said.
Asked if her parents were reluctant to send her to school, she replied in the negative. “It’s my responsibility to take care and follow the protocols,” she added.
Wantina Kharkongor, a Commerce teacher at St Anthony’s School, said there is no replacement for classroom teaching. During pandemic there were several problems yet they had to take the alternative and keep the students involved.
“Today when I came to the classroom it was the best experience looking at them and having a face to face teaching; it can’t be replaced. There are advantages of online teaching but there are certain issues like network. And in our school we have students from different background, there are students from areas where there are no electricity forget about internet, they don’t even have a smartphone. But somehow we could pull through. Even mental stress also goes away when they are in the classroom,” mentioned Kharkongor.
Asked if most students have been vaccinated, Kharkongor said that they have seen most students have taken the vaccine. She added that she has been fully vaccinated.
“ They have a lot of hesitancy concerning vaccination. They have a lot of question. But I also believe faith and science should go hand in hand. I have taken the vaccine for my students and family,” mentioned Kharkongor.
After the first wave of COVID-19, Meghalaya witnessed educational institutions closed since March 2020 and after the cases came down the schools partially reopened in December 2020. The schools were again closed when the second wave hit the state in May 2021. The Meghalaya Government had recently decided to allow the schools to partially reopen issuing certain protocols for schools to follow.
