Govt: Clear and Precise Response to Coronavirus Implication on Education Calendar

A response to our question Will PNG School Close Because of Coronavirus? The comments are from the senior educationist and former Education Secretary Dr Michael Tapo EdD. 

Valuable insight into the likely impacts of Coronavirus on Education and what can be done...

Foremost, before discussing closing the schools or not to close, think about the interconnectedness of the economy, social, educational, trade, technology, scientific knowledge, and many challenges of Papua New Guinea as a country and its people.

Paying the teachers while they are not working, school time calendar, examinations, public views and comments, and others are just as pertinent before a final decision is made.

Coronavirus: Interdepartmental communication

Coronavirus matter is a 'national disaster' and not regular health and hygiene matter. 

Current law allows health and education officials such as the two departmental heads to communicate and reach the verdict. 

Next, the National Education Board decides the final outcome. The Education Minister is advised who then, as the Minister responsible, informs the NEC to close or not to close.

Legislative responses and disaster management 

Beyond the decision to close the schools is that there are serious considerations by the Parliament. The members of government and opposition should join forces to legislate laws for the Coronavirus as a national disaster. This must be immediate and urgent because of its massive great consequences.

This virus will wipe out a percentage of our people once they are infected and spreads widely. Papua New Guinea absorptive capacity right now cannot control the spread of virus amongst members of communities, at the village, districts, rural areas and towns. 

Coronavirus is a matter of life and death to every member of Papua New Guinean society as a nation. 

Coronavirus management efforts overseas 

For instance, the developed countries like UK, USA, Australia, France, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, China and South Korea and many others have taken quick actions. 

These nations, their politicians, virus medical experts and scientists are spending every day to find ways to fight against the Coronavirus. 

They recommend clear and precise laws and policies for members of the public and its total citizens to understand and comply.

Coronavirus cannot be treated to date. It may take at least two to three years to find the dine to cure it completely. Worldwide 200,000 are infected. 8,000 people as of today's date have died.

No one, and I stress no one, is immune to Coronavirus. There is no cure for this virus. It is passed on from persons-to-persons.

Social media information can cause confusion and panic as experienced by the countries mentioned above.

Legislative responses – urgent 

I recommend authorities and leaders in responsible positions from the Health Department, Provincial Government, Organic Law, Education Act, and Parliamentary Acts are diligent. 

This virus has massive nation-wide consequences and challenges the application, implementation and implications of these regulations.

New laws must be approved to deal with this virus. The only Directive must be from the government and no one else.

Closing schools - decision

In the case of the decision to close the school, the new law must be introduced alongside 'National Disaster” law to realistically control the Coronavirus Pandemic.

ABC website is recommended for Papua New Guinea policymakers, health officials, hospitals, governors of provinces and school authorities, radio and TV stations to have access to 

• the latest evidence-based information, 
• the types of the required new legislation, and 
• the questions of what, when, how and where, the national and provincial government can and or cannot do.

The comment was updated for easy reading. Published with permission from the writer.

RECOMMENDED READING: 

Schools Shutdown due to Coronavirus COVID-2019

JOIN PNG INSIGHT ON TWITTER

Prime minister, summon the heads of state agencies and amenities together: water, power, telecom, transport, security...

Put in place an emergency plan in cases of complete shut down and isolation...how to get the basic amemnities going and keep the towns and cities safe.

— P.N.G. Insight (@PNG_Insight) March 19, 2020

Schools Shutdown due to Coronavirus COVID-2019

Schools in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji are taking measures to address the spread of the coronavirus in the event that cases are detected near the pupils and people they are in contact with.

IMAGE: Coronavirus-map 2020

Major news reports have indicated that schools in Japan, the US, the UK and the Pacific are talking about measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus among children.

In fact, moves were made to shut down schools amid coronavirus detection. 

IMAGE: MAIL ONLINE UK

The Nine News reported that two schools have shut down in Australia due to confirmed cases of coronavirus among their students, (St Patrick's Marist College and Willoughby Girls School corona shut down, Nine News). 

Coronavirus safety measures

There are certain prevention measures individuals can take to make it safe for themselves and others around them. This includes:

• washing hands thoroughly - refer to the hand-washing technique below
• keeping your distance from others - recommended 1 to 2 metres apart
• avoid using publicly shared items like lime/kambang and especially money notes and coins - resort to using cards as much as possible at this time
• limit attendance to public gatherings and public places where there is a large number of incoming and outgoing traffic such as airports and bus stops. 

Above all, look out for each other, the elderly and children. 

UPDATED: Will school close because of coronavirus?

PNG Schools, communities and coronavirus watch

Remoteness and less outside contact is the best friend for PNG schools. In villages and outstations, the population have less contact with outsiders. 

That makes it fairly safe.

But, many towns and cities have contact with travellers coming in from Port Moresby, Lae and other tourist hotspots in the country are among the risk group. And, they are likely to spread the virus to local communities and school children.

Having said that, the local communities need to have some kind of Community Watch for people who are travelling into the local villages and communities from the major centres.

There is no need for fear.

However, a concerted effort to contain the spread of coronavirus in villages and remote communities is urgent.

School and community hygiene and coronavirus   - important

Perhaps it is important to limit contact with others as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus if/when a case happens to surface in the country and in a local area.

Meanwhile, there are basic health and hygiene practices students can do to stay safe from coronavirus in schools. Among them is washing hands with soap whilst singing “Happy Birthday to Me’.

Wash you hands lyrics and infographics online

If you want to sing to your favourite song, check this brilliant website called WashYourHandsLyrics. Basically, you type the song title/singer name and the app puts the lyrics onto the NHS handwashing infographics. 

Right now the Bohemian Rhapsody is popular. Check out these PNG Unity songs to create your own infographics and lyrics. 

The high-risk group – kids and elderly

The coronavirus COVID-2019 related deaths recorded are among the elderly people and school (younger) children. This group needs attention. 

The elderly and young children may not be the likely group to have had vast exposure to the public and hence exposed to coronavirus. But, they can be infected through a family member or others close to them who may have had exposure to coronavirus, COVID-2019.

Therefore, able-bodied people need to take preventative measures seriously to prevent any spread of the virus to their household.

Everyone needs to take care of each other.

School shutdown due to coronavirus - no need to panic

There is NO case of confirmed coronavirus in PNG. A FAKE online map showed a red mark on PNG map. 

No need to believe it.

Unless the local PNG health authorities mentioned a case of coronavirus in PNG, there is absolutely no need to panic.

Schools are not shutting down in PNG. Students are going to schools and teachers are teaching. However, it is better to have contingency plans in place. 

That means that the school Board and managers should have a ‘list of things to do’ if/when there is a corona-case detected nearby.

So, planning for school shutdown should be happening: what to do, how to keep learning going, and how long to shut the school.

Should PNG Schools be worried - yes

Surely. Any widespread infection is a course for public concern. PNG schools should definitely be worried, but not scared.

No need to rush to the shops and fight over toilet papers or shut schools down just because there is a case of cold flu in the school.

As mentioned, close schools and limit exposures to public gatherings IF there is a clear case of the viral coronavirus breakout in PNG. 

But, schools must not close because of rumours and scaremongering.

Life must go on as normal.