The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to human capital, not only in health, but also in education.The leaders of international organizations, state and public figures of various countries express their alarm in connection with the situation that has arisen when the young generation is deprived of the opportunity to fully acquire knowledge at school, enter universities and find a job after graduation.
The global problem of humanity to receive a “lost generation” was outlined by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his August video message on Twitter, stating that more than a billion students worldwide were left without school or were unable to properly continue their studies due to the consequences of the pandemic.
In 160 states, the authorities had to close schools, 40 million children were left without kindergartens and creches.As Antonio Guterres noted, “Despite continuing lessons through radio, television, the Internet, as well as all the efforts of teachers and parents, many students were out of reach.
Students with disabilities, minorities or disadvantaged communities, displaced persons and refugees, and those living in remote areas are at risk of falling far behind their peers.” Moreover, if in developed countries the negative consequences were partially mitigated due to distance education, then in developing countries the picture is very sad, he added.
Even in the EU, according to UNESCO statistics, the number of people affected in one way or another due to the interruption of the educational process is estimated at millions: almost 15.5 million people in the UK, Germany and France. “We are facing a catastrophe of generations, which can lead to the loss of enormous human potential, nullify the progress achieved over the decades and perpetuate existing inequalities,” said the UN Secretary General.
In Turkmenistan, even before the start of the current academic year, the Ministry of Education developed instructions for organizing the educational process in secondary schools in compliance with all preventive and restrictive requirements.
The number of students in the classes was limited to 15-20, they are seated in a checkerboard pattern, one at each desk, in compliance with the mask regime.
The time for conducting lessons with different durations for schoolchildren of younger and older ages was also reduced, and the training itself was organized in shifts.Primary and high school students enter the school through separate entrances, where their temperature is taken and their hands are sanitized.
The entrance mats are treated with disinfectant solutions at regular intervals.Parents and other adults are not allowed in the school.
In each class, a health corner was created with a supply of antiseptics, masks and some medicines, and in case of deterioration of the state of health of one of the students, he is isolated from the rest of the children in a specially equipped room.
Lessons in some subjects physical education, biology, the basics of life, as recommended, if possible, are carried out in the open air.The rules for schoolchildren visiting canteens and other common areas, their regular disinfection, and the mode of airing classrooms during breaks have also been determined.
The organization of the educational process according to the scheme developed by the Ministry and verification of its observance in all educational institutions involved not only education workers.Members of public organizations and students of the State Medical University of Turkmenistan provided all possible assistance in this important matter for the whole country.
Thanks to these measures, Turkmen schoolchildren have the opportunity, as before, to go to school, where they not only gain knowledge, but also communicate with peers and teachers, and participate in interesting events.