Reopening of schools during COVID-19 pandemic: A persistent dilemma

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably impacted the education systems across the world. It led to a shift from in-person interactive school curriculum to an abbreviated digital platform-based learning. It is estimated that one in seven children globally has missed more than three-quarters of in-person learning, thereby affecting their social, mental and physical development1. The situation becomes worrisome in the Indian context where already widened learning inequities exist. However, there is a lack of scientific consensus on what is the appropriate time and approach to restore in-person learning among school children in India, even after 18 months into the pandemic with two distinct wave peaks being encountered; the first one in mid-September 2020 and the second during mid-May & June 2021.