The debate on re-opening schools amidst COVID-19

Henry Kachaje wrote

I know others feel we shouldn't open schools yet. Here are some questions to think about:

1) Since April, while the kids are not in school, how are they being protected? Have we locked them up in our houses? Is there strict social distancing being practiced in our communities? 

(Please, don't think about ana akumpanda ku Namiwawa, Nyambadwe, Area 10, 43, (well to do residential areas) think about ana aku Mbayani, Chilomoni, Mtandire, Nchesi, (low income and crowded areas). Are these kids practicing Social distancing in these locations?

2) If we have not locked them up while they are not in school, how have they survived this far? What is it that they are doing that is keeping them safe?

3) What protective measures can we employ in the schools? 

To be honest, very little can effectively be done especially in crowded government schools. But we can continue with regular washing of hands, etc.

Let us move on with life. Let's open schools. We are creating far worse challenges by keeping schools closed indefinitely. 

Ma vaccine anayimatu, teenage pregnancies are on the rise, early child marriages, alcohol abuse, HIV aids spread... Unfortunately, we are not tracking these challenges but just focusing on the new disease,  Covid-19.

Then there are complex socioeconomic issues: Teachers starving, failing to pay rentals, private school owners failing to pay teachers, failing to service bank loans, businesses that service the education sector collapsying, etc.

Covid-19 is a complex problem but let us learn how to live with the virus. It has come to stay unfortunately, and life must go on.