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Learning safely: On Schools reoppening

As schools prepare to reopen, the focus has to be on vaccination and safe behaviour

The Centre’s move to allocate 2 crore coronavirus vaccine doses for universal coverage of all teaching
and non-teaching staff in schools by Teachers’ Day (September 5) adds a measure of confidence that
resumption of face-to-face classes from September is not fraught with high risk. Several States are
preparing to reopen schools, mostly for Class 9 and higher, next month. Some, including Haryana,
Telangana and Gujarat, have announced that they will allow offline classes even for younger children.
Amidst fears of a third wave of the pandemic, epidemiologists, academicians and policymakers have
been wrestling with the question of a low-risk trade-off, balancing protection from the virus with
some bridging of the learning deficit caused by prolonged school closures that are crippling future
prospects of millions of children. It is encouraging that half of the 97 lakh teachers in the country have
already been immunised, by official estimates, making it feasible to reach the rest by September 5.
The risk of infection to children in schools remains, however, and must be addressed with utmost
seriousness, particularly with fast-transmitting virus variants present in all States. This calls for a
coherent response that incorporates the best learnings from epidemiology and decentralises
decision-making to the districts based on local circumstances. It is, of course, a step forward that a
vaccine, the three-dose ZyCoV-D, has been approved for the 12-18 age group, but this is to be
administered only from October. The reversion to physical classes will, therefore, have to be carefully
calibrated.

Vaccination of children over 12 years of age has been allowed in some countries, but the pandemic’s
course has remained unpredictable. In Israel, one of the most vaccinated countries with an estimated
78% coverage of the over-12 population, the Delta variant swiftly caused a spike in infections as
distancing norms, the mask mandate and travel bans were eliminated. In one instance, an entire class
of students was infected by one unvaccinated child who had been on vacation. This cautionary tale
serves to emphasise the importance of priority vaccination of children, starting with those who may
have other health conditions, maintaining safety protocols, and adopting low-cost non-
pharmaceutical interventions such as good classroom ventilation and open-air instruction wherever
feasible. Credentialed studies in the U.S. indicate that these are effective measures, along with
vaccination. It is vitally important for the Centre to share information on the school reopening
experience with all States and issue alerts in real time to enable decision-making. An empirical
approach will also enable organisations such as the National Institute of Disaster Management collate
useful insights. Parents must be convinced by transparent official measures that the health and
education prospects of their children are in safe hands. [Practice Exercise]

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Vocabulary
1. Move (noun) – initiative, step, action, act 12. Policymaker (noun) – A person responsible
कदम, पहल for or involved in formulating policies,
especially in politics. क, त- म त
2. Allocate (verb) – allot, assign, issue, award,
13. Wrestle (verb) – fight, struggle, wrangle,
ल
3. Universal (adjective) – ubiquitous,
comprehensive, all-inclusive पक 14. Low-risk (adjective) - Involving or exposed
to a low level of danger; secure, sound,
4. Coverage (noun) – The area that can be risk-free त
covered by a specified volume or weight of
a substance. 15. Trade-off (noun) – swap, exchange, switch,
barter, interchange द द , मल
5. Add (verb) – impart, lend, give द क ,
द 16. Balance (verb) – Establish equal or
appropriate proportions of elements in
6. Measure (noun) – certain amount, त लत क
amount, degree, quantity क हद तक
17. Bridge (verb) – join, link, connect, unite
7. Confidence (noun) – trust, belief, faith, , मल
credence, म
18. Deficit (noun) – shortfall, deficiency,
8. Resumption (noun) – restart, restarting, shortage कम , , क
recommencement, reopening, प ,
19. Prolong (verb) – lengthen, make longer,
ल ,
extend ल क , ल
9. Fraught (with) (adjective) – full of, filled
20. Cripple (verb) – ruin, destroy, wipe out,
with, swarming with, rife with लद ह
, क , क
10. Amidst (preposition) – at a time of, in an
21. Prospects (noun) – Chances or
atmosphere of, क म म
opportunities for success or wealth. ,
11. Epidemiologist (noun) – A person who म
studies or is an expert in the branch of
medicine which deals with the incidence,
distribution, and possible control of
diseases.

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22. Encouraging (adjective) – promising, 33. Learning (noun) - Knowledge acquired

hopeful, auspicious, क, through study, experience, or being
taught. क , ,
द ल

34. Decentralise (verb) – Transfer (control of

23. Immunise (verb) – Make (a person or
an activity or organization) to several local
animal) immune to infection, typically by
offices or authorities rather than one
inoculation. क ल द
single one. क क क द ,
24. Estimate (noun) – rough calculation, क तक
approximation, estimation कल
35. Step forward (Phrasal verb) – Offer one's
25. Feasible (adjective) – practicable, practical, help or services. ( ह त)
workable, achievable , , त
36. ZyCoV-D (noun) – It is a DNA plasmid-
26. Address (verb) – attend to, tackle, see to, based COVID-19 vaccine developed by
deal with, confront ल , प Indian pharmaceutical company Cadila
Healthcare, with support from the
27. Utmost (adjective) – greatest, maximum, Biotechnology Industry Research
greatest possible कतम, त Assistance Council. It is approved for
emergency use in India.
28. Particularly (adverb) – specifically,
37. Administer (verb) – dispense, deliver,
explicitly, expressly, प
issue, give, provide, त तक
29. Fast-transmitting (adjective) – something
which is spreading very quickly. 38. Reversion (noun) – A return to a previous
state, practice, or belief. ल
30. Call for (phrasal verb) – require, need,
necessitate, make necessary, demand 39. Calibrate (verb) – Carefully assess, set, or
कत ह, क adjust (something abstract) ,
क
31. Coherent (adjective) – unified, united,
consolidated, amalgamated त, 40. Course (noun) – The way in which
त, म लत something progresses or develops;
sequence, order, succession, म
32. Incorporate (verb) – include, subsume,
assimilate, integrate 41. Unpredictable (adjective) – unforeseeable,
undivinable, incalculable, uncertain
त, त

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42. Swiftly (adverb) – rapidly, quickly, fast, 53. Experience (noun) – skill, practical
speedily, त knowledge, practice

43. Spike (noun) – A sharp increase in the
magnitude or concentration of something.
त
44. Mandate (noun) – instruction, directive,
direction, द , द
45. Eliminate (verb) – remove, get rid of,
abolish ह
46. Instance (noun) – example, occasion,
occurrence, case, द ह ,
47. Tale (noun) – story, short story, narrative,
anecdote, क , कह
48. Serve (verb) – act as, function as, fulfil the
function of, do duty as क प म क
49. Emphasise (verb) – stress, put the accent
on, put the force on ल द , द ,
मह प द
50. Non-Pharmaceutical (adjective) – Not
relating to medicinal drugs, or their
preparation, use, or sale.
51. Credentialed (adjective) – certified,
certificated, chartered, licensed, म त,
54. Real time (noun) – The actual time during
which a process or event occurs.
55. Enable (verb) – Make possible.
56. Empirical (adjective) – observed, seen,
factual, actual, real,; Based on, concerned
with, or verifiable by observation or
experience rather than theory or pure
logic. , क
57. Collate (verb) – collect, gather,
accumulate, assemble क क , म
क ,
58. Insight (noun) – A deep understanding of a
person or thing. त , ह पह
59. Convince (verb) – persuade, satisfy, prove
to म , हमत क
60. Transparent (adjective) – obvious, explicit,
unambiguous, unequivocal, clear प द क,
प
61. In safe hands (phrase) – protected from
danger, protected from harm, free from
danger. तह म

52. Vitally (adverb) – In a way that is

absolutely necessary or essential. त

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Practice Exercise
1. How to address the risk of infection to children remains in school? [Editorial Page]
(i) By incorporating experience and study of epidemiologist
(ii) By banning travel to other state
(iii) Decentralization of decision making power to the districts
(iv) Imposing fines in case of negligence
A. Only (i) B. (ii) and (iv)
C. Only (i) and (iii) D. All are correct.
2. What makes feasible to vaccinate the rest of the teacher by September 5?
A. Because the supply of vaccine is increasing.
B. Because teachers take interest in vaccinating to avoid further spreading of virus.
C. Because, on this day teacher day is celebrated.
D. Because half of the 97 lakh teacher already been vaccinated.
3. What is the reason behind spike in infections in Israel even after having the tag of most
vaccinated country?
A. Because an entire class of students was infected by one unvaccinated child
B. Because Delta variant of virus is not restricted to any kind of vaccine.
C. Because Distancing norms, the mask mandate and travel ban eliminated
D. Because 22% population of the country is still unvaccinated.
4. Which of the following is the example of non-pharmaceutical intervention?
(i) Wearing mask
(ii) Sanitize our hand regularly
(iii) Proper ventilation system
(iv) Taking proper medication in case of fever and other symptoms.
A. (i), (ii) and (iii) B. only (iii)
c. (ii) And (iv) D. None of the above.
5. Spot the grammatical error in the given sentence [Answers]
This cautionary tale serves to emphasise on (A)/ the importance of priority vaccination of
children, (B)/ starting with those who may (C)/ have other health conditions. (D)/ No error (E).
A. (A)
B. (B)
C. (C)
D. (D)
E. (E)

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Direction (Q6 – Q8): Select the best express synonym of the given words [Answers]

6. Universal
A. Ubiquitous
B. Languish
C. Inert
D. Heresy
7. Cripple
A. Malfeasance
B. Delude
C. Reprove
D. Ruin
8. Feasible
A. Anguish
B. Practicable
C. Tirade
D. Expedite
9. What is the antonym of ‘Swiftly’?
A. Insolent
B. Heyday
C. Slowly
D. Exigency
10. What is the antonym of ‘Prolong’?
A. Vex
B. Shorten
C. Perjury
D. Celibacy

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Answers
1. C 2.D 3.C 4.B 5.A 6.A 7.D 8.B 9.C 10.B [Practice Exercise]

Explanations
5. As a rule no preposition is placed after the following verbs when these verbs are used in active
voice.
‘Stress, emphasise, discuss (matter), investigate, comprise, accompany, consider, violate,
demand, resemble, pervade, precede, succeed, reach (at), resign (post), attack, invade,
resist, enter (come into), eschew, befall, order, direct, join, sign, affect, ensure, board,
describe, await, lack, regret, concern.’

For example: The teacher emphasise on the need of discipline in life. (Remove ‘On’)

Explanation of other important words

Sr.NO Words Meanings
Q6 Languish verb To become weak, listless, or depressed द ल
Inert adjective Inactive; sluggish; not reacting
chemically
Heresy noun Any belief that is strongly opposed to मत, मत त
established belief.
Q7 Malfeasance noun An illegal act, especially by a public द
official
Delude adjective To deceive द
Reprove verb To criticize mildly द क
Q8 Anguish noun Agonizing physical or mental pain प , द

Tirade noun Prolonged, bitter speech क

Expedite verb To speed up or ease the progress of द क , प
क
Q9 Insolent adjective Arrogant; insulting दतम

Heyday noun Golden age; prime दक म

Exigency noun An emergency; an urgency कत

Q10 Vex verb To annoy; to pester; to confuse त क

Perjury noun Lying under oath
Celibacy noun Abstinence from sex हत

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