Primary and secondary schools have started phased reopening with many of them set to resume in-person classes next week. This follows more than seven months of school closure occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. However, it will not be business as usual for learners and staff as the reopening takes place in the context of Covid-19 safety and public health protocols. It comes at a time when some parts of the world, particularly Europe, are witnessing what has been described as the second wave of the virus, forcing authorities to impose fresh stringent restrictions, including lockdowns. The recent spikes in Covid-19 cases witnessed in mostly western countries followed weeks and months of reversal of restrictions on businesses and public life, decisions which were largely influenced by the need to save livelihoods and economies. Now some western governments are reintroducing tough measures, even warning that the second wave is likely to be more deadly than the first. In Africa, the trend has largely been different, with many countries, including Rwanda, generally seeing a steady decline in cases. As a result, African governments that had responded to the crises aggressively have increasingly been easing restrictions, with reopening of schools one of the decisions. In Rwanda, schools have been busy over the last few weeks creating the conditions necessary for a safe return to physical learning, albeit with difficulty considering that social distancing requirements called for investments in more classrooms, furniture and other necessities. However, putting the requirements in place was one thing, respecting the guidelines is another altogether. While health and local authorities will be expected to continuously inspect and monitor observance of the guidelines, ultimately the people to implement them and make them work are the schools – the administrators, staff and students. Yes, the guidelines are uncomfortable and costly, but we have come to learn that there is no shortcut to a return to safe learning environments in the era of the pandemic. Yet schools – and authorities – cannot achieve this on their own. It requires everyone to respect the health guidelines and to cooperate as far as ensuring the safety of schoolchildren – and the community at large – is concerned. We must all do our best to steer away from behaviour that could further complicate students’ learning. We wish all learners, as well as teachers and other staff safety, health and success as schools finally reopen.
