BACK TO SCHOOL: RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM SAFELY

Five months on from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and policymakers and public health officials have decided it’s time to return to the classroom. Around the world, schools and colleges are preparing for a new semester, and though environments may be different, one thing is clear: teachers and students will be depending on technology more than ever.

LEARNING IN TIMES OF THE CORONAVIRUS

Over the past few months, teaching bodies and school administrators have been fiercely debating the safety of reopening schools in the United States. And it’s a similar picture in other countries. In April, an eye-watering 1.5 billion students around the world were sent home from school for an early summer break, and whilst some have been trialing new ways of learning, others have pulled the plug entirely, with kids going without lessons or contact time for almost six months. With September just around the corner, the pressure is . One of the biggest stumbling blocks in reopening schools safely is the lack of reliable information on just how easily young people can catch and spread the virus. Although some , clusters of cases have been reported, - and . At one camp alone, more than 250 children tested positive for COVID-19, demonstrating the potential danger.