Georgian parents: we are afraid of the “lost Covid generation”

Parents for Education, a Georgian nongovernmental organization, is calling for the government to fulfill its obligations to children.

The organization talks about the dangers associated with the isolation of children and the closure of kindergartens and schools. According to them, in the future, Georgia will receive the so-called “lost Covid generation”. Because of the time children spend at the computer, without fresh air and motionless:

“Children often have health problems as a result of isolation and restrictions, more and more children need the help of a psychologist every day, because they are faced with the problem of socialization, children tend to be depressed, behavioral and emotional problems”.

According to them, it is not yet known what was done in order not to face this fact. Decision-makers only talk about restrictions, not what they are doing to get children back to school. Specifically, what steps have been taken for this, what results have been achieved, and what is planned in the near future.

The NGO also calls for concrete steps to be taken to make school education more accessible to children.

Including:

• The state should take care of vaccination against Covid-19 in target groups of schoolchildren and parents;
• Develop criteria by which each individual school can be opened, based on risk assessment and informed decision-making;
• Make an exception for grades I and XII and open schools for them so that the process of adaptation and socialization of first graders proceeds properly, and 12 graders have the opportunity to continue their studies using the knowledge gained at school;

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Distance learning will be resumed in Georgian schools from September 15 to October 4. The restrictions apply to both schools and higher education institutions. In addition, private and public kindergartens will not be open until October 4th.

According to Education Minister Mikhail Chkhenkeli, from October 4, a differentiated approach to schools will be applied, which means that in cities and villages where the infection rate will be below 4%, education will be resumed in classrooms. However, the parent can choose whether the child will continue learning remotely or in the classroom.

In connection with the aggravation of the epidemic, the Public Defender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria demanded to postpone the elections to self-government bodies scheduled for October 2.

In recent months, up to 6,000 cases of coronavirus infection and up to 80 deaths have been registered in Georgia every day.

At a briefing on August 18, Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia said infection rates are still high and there are no signs of stabilization in any region.