TURA, May 4 - The Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE) has expressed concern over the sudden move of the state�s Education Department to reopen schools in the state despite the threat posed by the COVID�19 pandemic.
The Education Department had earlier met, wherein a decision to reopen schools from May 5 was mooted.
�This decision could destroy all our efforts to restrain this pandemic during the entire lockdown period. The idea of social distancing can never be practiced in our schools as maximum number of schools in rural areas lack enough sitting facility against the number of students,� observed president of the NGO, Dalseng B Ch Momin.
Further, he added that educational institutions were not in a position to guide students to abide by social distancing norms.
�Even if it is somehow maintained during classes, what about before the start and end of classes? Is there a proper course of action to oblige them to abide by the social distancing norm? There�s none, and we know that this move will be counterproductive to the national and state exercises to regulate and eliminate COVID-19,� he added.
The NGO mentioned that every state along with Meghalaya were moving people who were stranded during the lockdown from other states.
�We are facing a possible second wave of the pandemic. Reopening the educational institutions at this point could be suicidal,� he pointed out, while urging the authorities to reconsider the decision.
The NGO further appealed to the authorities to strictly monitor the entry and exit points of the state border, while enforcing proper medical screening and regulate the movement of people.
