Mrs Ronke Adeniyi aka RonkePosh is a contributing writer for News Round The Clock (NRTC). She is an educator par excellence and the Founder of Le Poshe School, and Posh Babies and Kids both based in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
The abnormal ‘new normal’ – how do we navigate this terrain?
My heart was somewhat heavy as I watched my 14 year old spend hours on end revising content sent to her from school. She was getting ready for her exams.
She complained about her eyes and would take breaks to stretch herself and to allow blood flow freely through her body.
I couldn’t complain and I must not, especially as I am the one who told her to be grateful for the opportunity to continue learning online, knowing that millions of children around the world did not have the same privilege.
It is no longer news that millions of children remain at home. Those learning online around the world remain a minority. There are going concerns about neglect as well as physical, verbal, sexual and emotional abuse.
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When will our children feel safe, loved and protected again?
Online learning remains the safest and the most highly recommended approach to continue learning for our children. However there are challenges with access to devices and to the internet in many areas around the world.
In Nigeria, only a few children – the minority in this case – were carried along when a few schools resumed online in April 2020.
For many parents also, having to juggle the management of multiple devices, children and their own work is overwhelming.
Parents are urged to be patient and mindful at this time, even as the entire globe looks forward to the COVID-19 disappearing as quickly as it came to shut down the world.
Safety is paramount
What do we do in the meantime, as we continue to look forward to the number of cases reducing, so that it’s safe enough for children to go back to school?
Whether online or offline, we need to safe-guard the mental and emotional well-being of our children. We must ensure that they are happy and engaged in fun activities. After all, the work of a child is play according to Maria Montessori and from the careful observation of many educators over the years.
In Nigeria, children in exiting classes such as Primary 6, JS 3 and SS 3 are back in school and we continue to appeal to all parents, guardians and educators to ensure that safety remains at the forefront.
Everything has changed; social distancing should be enforced, masks worn and sanitizers made available in addition to fresh and clean running water. Training and orientation of staff, parents and the children is necessary.
The abnormal new normal is here to stay! We all need to learn to “school again.”
Planning for success
We look forward to returning to life as it was before. But really, can it ever be the same again? Many have said it cannot be.
What is school without contact, the high-fives, the pat on the back? How do you explain to preschoolers that they can’t get cuddles? What about even the simplest activities involving working in pairs within close proximity?
The resumption of schools needs to be planned properly. The minds of the educators, parents and children must be prepared for it. The mental and emotional state, the readiness or lack of it really must be factored in above all else.
Happy resumption as we prepare to return to a new normal, one which I call ABNORMAL.
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