The education sector has been hit really hard in the pandemic, even more so in the case of children from low-income backgrounds. Their studies came to a stop overnight with the lockdown, and many had to drop out of schools to help make ends meet. Their academic progress was susceptible to being set back, but with the start of the new year and the decreasing number of positive cases, a ray of hope has emerged.
We decided to open up our day care centres in January, and since then, there has been a flurry of excitement all around. The children had long been waiting to meet their teachers and to get back to their studies. The first day was full of smiles and nostalgia. The children were together after months and had a lot to celebrate.
Apart from the old students, we had a lot of new students coming in. The lockdown had been hard on children, and their studies had taken a toll for the worse. Most of them had forgotten what they had learnt before the pandemic hit. The first few days were spent revising past concepts, but now that the students are back in the groove, they’ve started working twice as hard as they used to.
The setting up and reopening was a huge task. It involved weeks of planning and contemplating. The first step was ensuring that the centres were sanitized before they were opened up for the students and the staff. The first week was quite hectic, with getting the classrooms ready, field visits, and enrolling new students.
It was quite overwhelming, opening up the centres after a prolonged shutdown. Being able to go out on the field and meet the kids after such a long time was exhilarating!
About the Author
Shivangi Nigam is a Programme Coordinator at Wishes and Blessings.
She loves to spend time with kids and spends her spare time reading, writing, and watching documentaries. It was her zeal to contribute to a cause that motivated her to give up her corporate career and work for non profits.