This year the teachers’ day is being observed amid increasing fear of possible arrival of third wave of Covid 19 Pandemic and as such the dream of teachers and students to return to classrooms is yet to come true. Like previous year this year too courses are conducted online, examinations are conducted online, and assignments are also submitted through email. So the reducing intensity of covid spread has not made any difference to teachers and students on the eve of teachers’ day this year also. The possibility of return to classrooms due to vaccination drive in Jammu & Kashmir like several states and union territories of the country is though taking away the gloom from the faces of teachers and students on the eve of teachers day but hopelessness still continues to haunt teachers and students due to the increasing fear of the possible arrival of third wave of covid-19 pandemic. In this atmosphere of hope and despair the online classes have become a new norm of teaching-learning process in Jammu & Kashmir like several states and union territories of the country. For both teachers and students frequent disconnections in online classes on Wise App is as good a bigger issue of concern as is a hassle free internet facility for teachers. Since full acquaintance of students with the online education is also an issue of concern, the demand for establishing a good infrastructure for online education system is rising day after day and month after month and more so in Jammu & Kashmir where hassle free internet facility is still an issue of concern for teachers conducting online class for the last two years.
As health safety of children has become the issue of prime concern in return of students to classes for teachers on the eve of teachers’ day this year, it is the duty of the parents and other stakeholders to understand the apprehensions and concerns of teachers on return of students to classes before the start of vaccination for children of all age groups.
The prompt internet facility is not the only issue of concern for teachers on the eve of this year’s teachers’ day but isolation and grief during the pandemic triggering mental health issues among the students is another huge concern for both the teachers and as well as parents. Though health specialists now talk about covid vaccines for children above 18 years of age but unless and until health specialists don’t focus on covid vaccines for children below 18 years of age also, the return of teachers and students to schools can’t be planned in short time. As health safety of children has become the issue of prime concern in return of students to classes for teachers on the eve of teachers’ day this year, it is the duty of the parents and other stakeholders to understand the apprehensions and concerns of teachers on return of students to classes before the start of vaccination for children of all age groups.
