The damage is done

To date, the discussion about returning to face-to-face classes continues, but the damage is done. The Mexicanos Primero association reports the backwardness in math and reading, supports the position of returning to the classroom, but on the condition that they cover five hours a week…

The lack of an adequate and timely strategy will impact at least two generations of children and young people who in the last two school cycles did not have the essential conditions for learning, development, physical, mental and coexistence; among other limitations due to lack of tools, space and monitoring.

The swings of the pandemic exhibited the incompetence of the educational authorities from the beginning and to date.

In the first stage, despite the fact that they had more than three months to prepare for the arrival of Covid-19, they bet on television classes that would have been useful for a short period, but not for the second part of the school year.

There was time to work on a project to expand internet networks, with an agreement with specialized companies and the CFE network. There was time to buy tablets or personal computers. Do you know that teachers in the public sector did not have computer equipment or resources to prepare materials?

Thousands of children were condemned to follow their classes through their parents’ cell phones, many others had the commitment of many teachers who provided personalized follow-up.

With everything and the impact on the variants, the pandemic in Mexico has been somewhat predictable because it has given a margin that has not been used to make preparations.

When the decision was made in the world to return to face-to-face classes, the need for teachers and students to be tested in schools, adapt classrooms to ensure healthy distance, ventilation, water, soap, gel and masks was realized.

Impossible, hundreds of campuses in Mexico were vandalized, everything was stolen from them, the water problem continues with a pandemic and without a pandemic.

To date, the discussion about returning to face-to-face classes continues, but the damage is done. The Mexicanos Primero association reports the backwardness in mathematics and reading, supports the position of returning to the classroom, but on the condition that five hours a week, at least five hours of class, and with conditions ranging from having with soap and water, sanitizers, masks, ventilation, a learning reinforcement program and socio-emotional support, among others.

There are thousands of children and young people with a strong impact due to confinement, inactivity and isolation; it will not be easy to redirect them or level them with other classmates who have had a better use, the academic gap that will have a greater impact between students in private and public schools is already a reality.

Dropping out is another problem, it was recorded at almost all levels, with greater emphasis on middle and high school, it will be difficult for them to return to the classroom.

In addition to the lack of equipment and tools, tests and vaccinations must be added.

Tests simply have not been available and vaccines have been denied to children since the presidency.

There is no doubt that everyone in the world is bearing the consequences of the pandemic, but the impact is much greater in the two generations that have spent two years of their lives and almost two school years without resources or due attention.

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