Szilárd VAJDA's blog

Education, among other businesses struggling during the pandemic  is also under threat. It is unfortunate to see how young generations of students are restrained at home and the education what they are [currently] getting is limited or in many cases even just non-existent. Schools deserted, universities deserted, campus grounds empty. This is today's reality. Apocalyptic. 

Each society puts its faith in these young generations to create something better, something new, something different. However, the education of these new pillars is vital. We have to educate them so that they can educate us later. This is the cycle. It always was. And now the cycle is broken. 

You can see the how politicians, education experts, school districts presidents, education secretaries, university presidents worldwide are changing their statements on daily basis according to the new developments of the virus, but students and parents they just care when they can be back on track and kids can resume school again. In all honesty, it is sad to see how chaotic the whole system is and due to complete lack of leadership at every level you just feel that nobody cares and nobody knows the answers.  Everybody is just concerned about the position and liability. Nothing else matters.  

In Europe some countries decided to shut the whole operation down for this academic year. No more school at this point, while other countries they mimic some type of education via online tools, but the quality is questionable at best. Universities usually they provide some type of online education, but changing the whole f2f system to online over the weekend is taking a heavy toll on quality, on educators and on students alike.  

THE question is: what about Fall? Summer break is our ally, --it will give us some time to think, but September is approaching fast and soon universities they have to decide: to be or not to be [open]. Financially speaking going online it would be a death warrant for many institutions as housing, dining and other campus activities can bring considerable amount of money  beside the tuition, but if they prefer to focus more on students, educators and staff's wellbeing and safety the revenue will diminish. Considerably. People will loose their jobs. This is the cruel reality but at least to some extent we can guarantee certain level of safety and protection.

The other option preferable  for thousands of reasons by the decision makers is to wide open the doors and welcome back the students in Fall 2020. Perfect! Students would be happy as they will get back the student life for what they were craving so hard for so many years. Parents would be happy as they can see that their kids education is going back to normal. Educators will be happy as they will get back to the same old same old f2f education and get heir full salary. Decision makers will be happy as they can keep their comfortable seats, bonuses and they can eventually hope for another reelection. Happy ending.

However, let us paint a darker scenario. Somebody on a university campus will be infected, -and the chances are rather high for such thing to happen. It can be a student, it can be a professor and it can be a staff. Everybody. Who is going to be responsible? [...] What will happen if such type of lawsuits will hit the universities? Who is going to pay the bill? Money is one issue, but who is going to take the moral blame for somebody's life? Are you? [...]

Who is going to convince the students and parents that the university environment is safe? Same thing with a professors and staff. Usually classes are happening with 30-50 students plus the instructor. Social distancing is just impracticable in such locations. Would that be safe? Really?

Can you imagine how many students a secretary or a professor can see in a single day? Who is going to guarantee their personal safety? Students roam around campus all the time  and can be asymptomatic virus carriers. Looking the data the virus is more deadly on older population. Professors, staff and other university personnel belong to this rather endangered age groups. Are they safe? Can we force them to go back and pretend that everything is all right? I highly doubt it.
What is going to happen if a professor, a secretary, an adviser is refusing to have direct contact with a student because they fear for their lives? Is anybody thinking about these aspects?

I understand the narrative to try to calm people and send a hopeful message to students, parents and university personnel, but let's not confuse the myth with reality.