Project Report
| Jan 14, 2022
Help schools open safely after Covid-19 lockdowns
![Helping children stay safe at school]()
Helping children stay safe at school
The Government of Nepal has now permitted all schools to open, after being closed for eighteen months due to the COVID-19 pandemic (with a short spell of reopening from November 2020 to January 2021). The government has created strict rules for schools to follow before they can reopen, including disinfection of classrooms and toilets, compulsory mask wearing, measuring body temperature before entering school and setting up of handwashing facilities.
However, the task of reopening schools was very challenging, especially for the ones that are in the remote part of the country. Schools in rural municipalities lack the funds to purchase the required safety equipment and supplies.
Mr. Dipendra Jha, Principal of Kalika Secondary School, reports:
“We teachers were in such a dilemma when the government decided to reopen the school. They said that school will resume by following safety measures, but I was thinking how would it be possible? How to manage risk in such a big number of children, I was thinking and thinking, and I thought again. We teachers can afford masks and sanitiser, but what about the children? I was really in such a dreadful situation and shared this feeling with the chair of the rural municipality, but he could not give a satisfying answer. My big tension was about the children whose parents are very poor and not able to manage food. How can they give masks and sanitiser to their children when they send them to school? So, I thought to share my situation with Child Rescue Nepal (CRN) who are like our close friend since they have been supporting us in building toilets and taps, giving bursaries etc. And I shared our problem with CRN, and they said do not worry we will do something. After a week, CRN came here to our schools with lots of support. I cried since I feel so happy! And feel relieved and thought the risk of COVID will be managed among our children. I on behalf of School Management Committee and my entire team would like to thank CRN for providing such amazing support in such a difficult situation and creating an environment to bring children back to the school again."
We are continuing to help schools reopen safely by providing items such as sanitiser, liquid hand soap, masks and thermal thermometer guns. Thank you for helping to fund these items which enable children to access their education again.
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