[International] Back to school - with face masks, hand sanitisers, smaller classes and no hugs

Though the #StillLearningcampaing, offered tools and activities during coronavirus, one billion children were stuck at home owing to closures. Now, as days are passing more and more schools reopen all around the world and share their strategies of socially distant learning. 

In Vietnam children’s body temperature is checked at the gates. They are required to use sanitisers, keep distance and leave school around noon. 

Swiss schools reopen twice a week with half classes where kids use sanitisers and follow the taped marks of distance keeping. 

In the Netherlands students’ desks are separated with plastic shields. Parents are asked to drop their children at the gate and older and younger students have to use different entrance doors to avoid infection. 

Wearing masks is compulsory for both teachers and students in South-Korea. Besides this, disinfection, temperature monitoring and reseating are all in process.  

Greek students are also back to school. They are instructed not to exchange their learning materials, such as pens and notebooks, with others. Moreover, students can only use computers with keyboard covers, and their seats need to be disinfected after using them. 

Just as the United Kingdom and France, Israel reopens schools with reduced class sizes and precautions. 

China seems to be the most prepared. Guidelines and information are hanging on the walls, all people entering the building go through a thermal scanner, teachers wear masks and canteen tables are equipped with glass walls to prevent children eating together. 

In Australia soaps, hand sanitizers, temperature monitors and protective equipment are placed in all schools. Furthermore, classes become smaller and activities involving physical contact are minimized. 

It seems that the scenario is the same everywhere. Keeping social distance, wearing masks, using sanitisers, monitoring temperature and breaking down the size of the class. However, the reception of reopening schools is diverse. Everyone feels that being back to school may never be the same as before. Most children are happy to meet their teacher and classmates, though have a hard time not getting close to them. Some parents feel inconvenient about sending their kids back to school, while others find it difficult to explain for their children why they cannot hug and kiss their friends and educators.