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With 20k Attendees & 5 Experts, ScooNews Hosted a Webinar on Sustaining Schools After COVID-19
A webinar hosted by ScooNews where 5 esteemed guests from the education sector discuss schools, teachers and parents’ plight.
With over 20,000+ attendees streaming live, ScooNews hosted yet another successful webinar on 7th May 2020. The panel discussion was about sustaining schools during and after COVID-19, challenges and way forward.
Moderated by Col A Sekhar, Soldier Educationist, the list of panellists included:
- Damodar Goyal, President, Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan
- Kulbhushan Sharma, President, National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA)
- Dr Swati Popat Vats, President, Podar Education Network and Early Childhood Association India
- Vishnu Karthik, Director, The Heritage Schools
Excerpts
Col A Sekhar: Share your individual perspectives regarding what the schools have seen and are yet to encounter post-COVID-19.
Dr Swati Popat Vats: I like how swiftly the schools caught the rhythm of online education during the Coronavirus outbreak. It’s commendable to see how teachers, especially those belonging to the early childhood education sector, have handled the situation with younger kids. However, I strongly feel that the post-COVID-19 scenario is going to be difficult and that will decide how successful we will be in surviving.
Damodar Goyal: For now, schools should focus on how differently they can emerge to resolve the matters. With this, the government’s intervention in deferment of fees should not be misused. A midway is needed to be found at the earliest.
Col A Sekhar: What are the significant challenges that are faced by the schools?
Vishnu Karthik: A school’s sustainability is in question currently and it needs revenues to solve this issue. What will the future look like, how will the limited resources be used, what is the liability and risk involved are some of the existing worries. Our school, for example, is concerned about how to bring the entire community (parents, educators, professionals) together and help sustain each other.
Col A Sekhar: So, what are the possible solutions that can be considered by the school management across India?
Kulbhushan Sharma: The private schools are under a lot of pressure, they have received less than 20% of the total due fees. Problems are alike everywhere but the private school budget is in deep trouble. According to my survey, it is a chain reaction. As parents refuse to pay the fee, the schools will ultimately fail to generate any revenue. And if these teachers don’t get paid on time, both the education and our economy will suffer. The only solution right now is to be considerate and work together during the pandemic. Sadly, there are some parents who can easily pay the fee but are refraining to do so. If this lot decides to come forward, we can support our teachers. I wish they considered education essential, too.
Vishnu Karthik: This is honestly not a situation in which we can draw a solution from the past. In my opinion, instead of thinking when school should reopen, it’d be wise if we start focusing on resolving the issues teachers are facing right now.
Dr Swati Popat Vats: In India, preschools are not considered necessary, which is a very wrong attitude. It’s about time we acknowledge the efforts preschools, and their teachers are putting in to keep their bond with the little ones strong. It is not easy when you're only communicating virtually, let me say. We are supporting our teachers by paying them their deserving salaries on time.
Col A Sekhar: Looking from a parent’s perspective, what do you have to say?
Damodar Goyal: It is not about the incapacity of the parents to pay the fees, but the uncertainty of the present situation that is worrying them. By saying so, I think schools need to show empathy to understand the problems of such parents in distress. A clear conversation between the two parties can solve a lot.
Col A Sekhar: Talking about the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), when parents are in fear and are uncertain themselves, how can school owners convince them to pay fees?
Damodar Goyal: Let’s get this clear to the parents that private schools are not looking for a profit in this tenure. As the management, you need to conduct transparent talks with the parents and tell them you need them to pay the fee. Let them know that not paying will eventually lead to no salary of the teachers, which is unfair. After all, education is not to be counted in expenditure but one's investment for a better future of their child.
Vishnu Karthik: If you've noticed, the fee cut began much before the government asked to waive it off. The shut down also came at the beginning of the quarter and hence, schools could not collect the pending fees at that time. So far, schools have been understanding and have been responding to parents’ concerns.
Col A Sekhar: How do we possess a better communication with the parents and get their perception right about private schools?
Dr Swati Popat Vats: Schools have a huge role to play when it comes to contributing to the economy. Communicating with the parents one on one is better than sending them generalized circulars. Getting parents on board is very important. Similarly, parents need to communicate with the schools as well.
Col A Sekhar: What do you have to say about the teachers who are handling online pedagogy and household chores with great responsibility?
Vishnu Karthik: A teacher is a teacher first and a teacher last. It is not unknown to the world how much teachers value their profession. To recognise their efforts and understand their plight, it’s crucial we support them. These unsung warriors haven’t been appreciated enough but I think this attitude is going to change now.
Dr Swati Popat Vats: To recognize these unsung heroes, the school management can do its bit by not putting extra pressure on them. Our schools, for example, have asked them to ease into the online teaching schedule slowly and steadily. Apart from this, we’ve made videos for those educators who were not comfortable going online and talking on the screen. We have given them guidelines, reassurance.
Col A Sekhar: Is there a trust deficit between parents and school because of COVID-19 panic? How will it affect children and education in the long run?
Damodar Goyal: Maybe. Schools will now be required to work hard and rebuild this lost trust if that’s the case. On the other hand, parents need to come forward and take responsibility. In my opinion, both need to ensure that their ward’s studies are not getting affected in any way.
Col A Sekhar: How can the government and central/state boards help schools?
Kulbhushan Sharma: I think the government should step up to help with soft loans provided to either schools or parents.
Dr Swati Popat Vats: Preschools do not benefit from boards, they do not come under them. Also, boards do not intervene in such matters. In short, the government should not tell parents to pay and not pay the fee, instead, let the schools decide about the waive-off themselves.
Col A Sekhar: In your opinion, what are the positive pedagogical interventions within the schools that can sustain schooling for the next 12-24 months?
Vishnu Karthik: First, do not go back to the old ways. Use the opportunity to push through and thereby come up with better reforms. For example, let online classes make students independent leaders who make and follow a routine on their own, with limited surveillance. This new role will become a unique kind of student-lead project in schools. Also, this will make them focus only on meaningful tasks.
Dr Swati Popat Vats: I would like to say this to all the leaders out there, reach out to others, be empathetic, have backup plans. It is important to have a leader with good leadership qualities, amidst this crisis.
Col A Sekhar: What is your final appeal to the parents?
Vishnu Karthik: Please recognise the efforts of teachers and schools, do not have negative assumptions, but reach out to us. Be mindful of the type of relationship you want with the schools for the sake of your child.
Damodar Goyal: Believe that schools will provide the full value of money when it comes to your child's education and future.
Kulbhushan Sharma: Appreciate your child’s teachers and schools, help them help you during this trying time. Lastly, pay your due fees.
Dr Swati Popat Vats: I would like to speak from the preschool and daycare’s perspective. Remember, once the lockdown is over, you would need preschools & daycares for your ward’s initial growth. So, appreciate them. Preschools provide a good foundation in the early years. Please know that they are not options, they are essential.
The conclusion of this heartfelt, very extensive session comes out to be rather straightforward. Both schools and parents need to talk directly to each other instead of presuming negatively. Remember we are in this together, and together is how we can be triumphant.