We were very happy to re-open three of our schools last month, following six months of enforced closure due to Coronavirus. Students in middle school classes (years 6,7,8) were the first to return to their classrooms on 23rd September as part of a staggered return to school. Pre-school and primary (years 1-5) followed on 30th September. Schools have been opened on a reduced timetable from 8:00 – 13:00. Each school is checking children’s temperatures on arrival and following social distancing protocols to reduce the risk of Covid transmission. We are proud of how quickly our students have been able to adjust to the new Government Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for schools.
The past few months have been particularly difficult for many of our students and their families. The national lockdown has led to widespread loss of daily earnings, causing severe hardship for already struggling families. Most of our students have no access to computers and internet at home to continue their learning online during the school closures. Superhands staff have worked hard to distribute schoolwork to students’ homes, and set up WhatsApp groups for the students’ parents to provide help with homework assignments.
The country as a whole is facing a sharp increase in school dropouts as a result of the school closures. Almost a million children are not expected to return to school According to the World Bank, “Pakistan is globally the country where we expect the highest dropouts due to the COVID crisis in relative terms.” We are please to say over 90% of our students have returned to school. In the face of this unprecedented crisis, we are doing, and will continue to do, our very best to ensure that all Superhands students make up their lost learning as soon as achievable.
Thankyou for standing by our students in these difficult months.