24 Jan 2022

The study, published by Boston Consulting Group, stated that over 80% of teachers expressed "impossibility" of maintaining an emotional connect in the online mode and that approximately 90% of children lost at least one specific language ability. The study suggested that India move to a philosophy of schools being the "last to close and first to open", instead of the other way round, and act on four key areas.

"First, decentralise school reopening and closures — at the ward, gram panchayat or school level, with clearly defined norms. Offer blended learning construct through the year, in addition to offline, continue online education. Strengthen testing, vaccination, safety protocol and ventilation," said the study. It showed that due to centralised decision-making, even in districts where there were less than 25 daily Covid cases, schools were forced shut.