As the number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore goes over 50, parents are getting concerned about sending their children to school.
This is understandable considering that large groups of students stream in and out of the compound, which might facilitate the spread of the virus.
However, Minister of Education Ong Ye Kung expresses that we have no plans to shut down our schools, according to The Straits Times (ST).
He explains that school closures disrupt daily life for many and students might, after all, be safer in schools.
Mr Ong believes that schools are implementing sufficient measures to ensure school facilities are thoroughly disinfected.
Students are also undergoing temperature exercises, helping them keep track of their health in this crucial period.
As such, schools might actually be the optimal environment to protect our students.
As stated by Mr Ong, homes might not always be the ideal place to hide from the virus as parents will still bring germs back to the house.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that students will obediently stay in their homes. Most of them will be out and about, increasing their risk of infection.
It is easy to call for school closure for the sake of short term comfort.
However, many fail to consider alternative arrangements that parents have to make if their children are not in school.
These arrangements are going to be unsustainable in the long run.
Most importantly, such a drastic action might trigger responses of fear and despair, states the minister.
To protect students, school closure isn’t the only way.
Ministry of Education (MOE) is even engaging the help of 5 superhero characters, Soaper 5, to teach students proper hygiene habits.
With these measures in place, Ong Ye Kung believes that school closures might not be necessary after all.
He, however, assures that MOE will monitor the situation and reassess the need for school closure if needed.
What do you think about shutting down schools in light of Covid-19? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Featured image adapted from The Straits Times and TODAY Online.
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