Guwahati students present 'Charter of Demands' seeking better safety measures in schools amid COVID-19

Guwahati: As many as 659 students from Guwahati presented a Charter of Demands asking for adoption of proper safety measures as schools have reopened amid rising COVID cases. All of these children belong to underserved communities who have faced interruption in their learning process due to the closure of schools. They presented their demands through a virtual Baal Sabha to the education officials, parents and other stakeholders, which was organised by an NGO, Magic Bus.

The Charter of Demands included the demand for distribution of free masks and gloves in schools, maintaining social distance in classrooms, separate toilet for boys and girls in school, and so on.

Along with the demands, the children also presented a Charter of Pledges, where they pledged that every child will keep learning, even in their homes.

Magic Bus has organised workshops across the Guwahati to ensure a child's continuity in education and returning safely to school once it reopens. The NGO organised the workshops in various communities and schools of Guwahati. The organisation has planned to host a series of presentation across the county, which will capture and highlight the demands of the children as they rejoin schools after their respective state government gives the nod. The series will focus on how to make rejoining schools safe for the students.

Sandhya Srinivasan, the Regional Director, East, Magic Bus, said, "The on-going pandemic has impacted the children like no other and worsened the learning gap they are facing, in the midst of school interruption. We took Children's Day as an occasion to raise awareness of the needs and issues they face in difficult times like this. The charters are a step towards ensuring uninterrupted learning, safe environment for children in schools and that we see a lesser number of dropouts."

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