With no sign of the coronavirus crisis being brought under control, how will school education be promoted going forward? The government and boards of education are urged to create an environment in which infection countermeasures can be balanced with effects on learning.
The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has included a budget for emergency measures against the coronavirus in its budget request for next fiscal year. In addition to the establishment of an online learning system, the ministry is also calling for the introduction of classes with small numbers of students and the installation of a large multipurpose space at public elementary and junior high schools in order to avoid crowded places with many students close to each other.
The Finance Ministry is negative about the plan to lower the current maximum number of 40 students in a class (up to 35 per class for the first grade of elementary school), claiming that it would not be able to bring about a learning effect commensurate with the cost of increasing the number of teachers for that purpose. However, the education ministry opposes the Finance Ministry's claim, saying that there is a limit to putting 40 desks in order in a 64-square-meter classroom amid the coronavirus crisis.
It is hoped that the crisis will serve as an opportunity to deepen discussions on the ideal educational environment.
Although there have not been so many coronavirus clusters at schools, teachers and students are still being infected with the virus. Some students are absent from school for fear of infection. In many of these cases, they are worried that they could spread the virus to the elderly because they live with their grandparents.
All possible measures should be taken to prevent infection so that children can attend school as safely as possible.
Since the blanket introduction of school closures, elementary, junior high and high schools across the country have been groping for measures to cope with the situation, such as staggered attendance by separating grades and introducing classes with half the normal number of students. The fight against the virus will be a long-term battle. From now on, it is important to study mid- to long-term policies to deal with the coronavirus.
Winter is drawing near, a time when it is feared the flu will spread simultaneously with the coronavirus. Is it possible to ventilate rooms well in the face of increasing cold? Are there procedures in place for if cases appear in which some people are infected with the virus or others have had close contact with infected patients? It is necessary to reconfirm these points.
How to enrich school life is also an important issue. This year, school excursions, cultural festivals and athletic meets have been canceled, and many schools are still unable to practice their club activities with all club members participating.
Some teachers complain that as all students are wearing masks in classrooms, they have lost the opportunity to share experiences with their classmates, and as a result, their personal relationships are not deepening.
Instead of school trips, some schools have organized day trips or had students stay overnight at hotels as a learning experience. Each school is required to rack its brain to come up with ways to make their classes and events as fruitful as possible.
It is worrisome that the burden on teachers is increasing. Summer holidays have been shortened and teachers have engaged in supplementary lessons to make up for the delay in lessons. In some cases, teachers are tasked with checking students' health, disinfecting school premises and even serving school meals for students.
The education ministry intends to increase the number of staff members in charge of supplementary lessons and clerical work. Support from local communities and parental guardians is also indispensable for reducing the burden on teachers.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Oct. 31, 2020.
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