We’ve heard from the Ministry of Home Affairs clearing the path to commence K-12 in the physical world post October 15th, 2020 and with that single announcement created a flutter given that different States would use their discretion and understanding of their numbers or cases, medical capabilities to decide if and when they would create standard operating procedures directing school managements to commence operations. Imagine the pressure on the local municipal bodies to verify all procedures and grant clearances and the ‘rush’ to get this done? What if in the process there is super spreading?
This in the backdrop of rising numbers, US and UK extending their lockdown for almost six months, and WHO directives about a second wave. While many educators continue to decode “structure” and “age-criteria” for schools in the Brick n Mortar world with the NEP announcement, the current challenge lies with States deciding whether it is safe for children to return to schools. I would assume this puts a lot of pressure and onus on school owners, as they will have to get undertakings, create infrastructure, orient children and essentially focus heavily on administrative operations including well being of teachers and other team members, not to mention transport woes and sanitation protocols. Those without playgrounds or ventilation face the uphill task given what we know about assembling in closed, air-conditioned spaces without proper ventilation (many schools are single storey buildings). To mobilise this mammoth operation requires financial investment and for schools that have suffered huge losses on account of non-payment of fees, this will be tricky. Assuming schools manage this within 2-3 weeks of States sanctioning permissions, how many parents will send children to school?
The directive is also clear, parents will not be obligated to send children and on-line teaching-learning must continue, in that case how do school managements manage “dual” programs, monitoring children in school and at home, and spare a real thought about teachers that will be expected to personalise for those on-line and then in school (extending their hours) and they still have to manage their own children and their own homes? There’s been tremendous effort, but this kind of expectation is unreal! Residential schools might be the easier route then, given children and teachers will be in a ‘bio-bubble’ post all quarantine measures and perhaps normalise quicker!
Parents need to be oriented about the challenges of managing daily routines should schools re-open and also that the world will not just go back to normal. In-door activities will still be restricted, outdoor will be encouraged, perhaps schools may insist on 3 day testing cycles for all, to ensure safety and security of all concerned. Worry is, the hurry to open all schools may contribute to a rising number, and are our cities equipped with enough medical facilities to deal with this?
I do not have all the answers to these questions, and fellow educators are in discussion with government officials, outsourced agencies that are conducting feasibility studies of mobilising, parent bodies and anyone who can guide them about the next step. Point is, no one can take that decisive decision and for me, schools must fulfil a certain criteria certified by a third party agency that has the ability to create SOPs, and perhaps bring children in small cohorts with complete transparency on part of parents via some app to enable them to register movements, and medical information that is updated real time. Their access to medical facilities, and organisation of infrastructure for school staff to live on campus like they do in hospitals, and breaks in between would mean that “bio-bubbles” will need to be created with so many families in one school, this is practically impossible!
Just a fleeting thought – would it not be possible to wait out these months, and consider a start in December for us to track developments and get ready with detailed preparation? Let’s plan well in advance, build capacities and capabilities to ensure that we do not put our children, the teachers and their respective families at risk.
Lots to think about and the next few weeks will feature deep conversations and research pulling in data from what other countries have experienced, what worked and what did not! Tricky months ahead and many more conversations and discussions, and I would be surprised if this is a sweeping sanction or decision. Schools will have to understand their own limitations and restrictions and be sensible about start dates even if the States are to allow it!
God knows we want to normalise, planning well would be the key.
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Fatema Agarkar, Founder , Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE)
Veteran of 3 educational start-ups , now Founder of the Agarkar Centre of Excellence, Fatema’s passion for teaching-learning and children defines the different roles she has crafted in 20 years – as an edupreneur, educator and mentor.
Fatema who is a State and University topper as part of the prestigious Mumbai based Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics, holds a degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Birmingham (UK), apart from her B.ED and ECCE degrees amassed when she decided education was her calling. Having kick-started her career in the corporate world and working with premier organizations like Commerzbank, Times of India and Egon Zehnder International, she always had an inner urge to bring about an enhancement in the sphere of education..
As an educationist and life-long learner, she has come a long way to intertwine modern methods of learning, teaching and customizing education as per the student’s intellectual requisites thus eradicating stress that stems from the education system. She has been sedulous in making comprehensive alterations in the education field in India. Being a risk-taker, Fatema has been focusing on the generation of innovative educational modules and her in-depth academic know-how, nothing but truly defines her ceaseless passion. Her name is synonymous with successful education models of the country and she is adjudged as Education World’s top 50 Educators in the year 2020. Adding more feathers to her hat, she has also been the recipient of several prestigious awards for her outstanding contribution to the field of education in the years 2013 and 2015.
Fatema has been awarded by Giants Group for her outstanding contribution to the field of education in 2012, the Young Achiever’s Award in the year 2017, Singapore based, Best of Asia’s, ‘Enterprising Educator in the year 2018 and as an entrepreneur ‘Best Edupreneur 2019 and Best Leadership’ by Progressive Academic Excellence India (Maharashtra 2019) and one of the 10th finest inspirational educators in 2019 by TKR, India . Her name is synonymous with successful education models of the country and she is adjudged as Education World’s top 50 Educators in the year 2020. Adding more feathers to her hat With close to 2 decades of experience in education, Fatema is the recipient of several honours including the Indian Achiever’s Award 2021. In July 2023, Fatema was also awarded the ‘Mumbai’s top Women Leader’ award by the CMO Asia National Awards’ (10th edition). Fatema is also a Jury Member for Cambridge School Recognition Awards 2025.
Having being associated with leading high school brands like DRS International, Hyderabad, NSS Hill Spring International, Mumbai, The Gera School, Goa, D Y Patil High School, Talegaon (Pune), SVM, Ratnagiri by the Gadre family, The Excellere World School, Gurgaon, JBCN International Schools, Mumbai, Fatema has now close to 40 pre-schools and high schools that she has set up from the grassroot level including a school for special needs’.
Fatema is on the Advisory Board of several Trusts including EduTech India, Wockhardft Foundation as well as a jury member, Education World Awards, a platform that recognizes the efforts of educators pan India. Fatema is also the Vice President for Early Childhood Association (ECA) and the Mumbai Territory Head for Association for Primary Education & Research (APER) in India. Fatema has been appointed as the global ambassador of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club. . Fatema is on the advisory board of the All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and currently appointed as the National Council Member for Financial Literacy & Management by WICCI. Given her access to parents and her ability to provide age appropriate strategies to enable them to make more informed choices, Fatema’s passion remains counselling in the hope that effective parenting will enable children to benefit the most.
Fatema is also the special advisor of the Child Chapter Association (CCA), a non-governmental organisation registered as a Section 8. company under the Companies Act, 2013 whose mission is to spread awareness and eliminate child abuse, including child sexual abuse. Her role as a special advisor of CCA includes providing advice and guidance for their special outreach programs for Schools and teachers that tap into the child psyche and help them raise their voice against abuse. Fatema also played an instrumental role in the development of the CCA comic books and characters for their global campaign for child abuse awareness and prevention.
Currently, Fatema is the Advisor & Mentor to Finland International School, Race Course and on course to start her own school in 2026. As a TedX speaker, and a avid blogger, Fatema is passionate about sharing her knowledge amassed and inspiring stakeholders be it teachers, parents or students.
Her vision includes set up up of Soup Kitchens, Foster Homes and a community centre for the elderly under the Agarkar Foundation in time.
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