ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON TEACHERS

Before hotels, restaurants, public transport, borders, gatherings, processions, mosques, churches, marriages and cinemas were asked to observe lock down by government, all schools and tuition centres were closed down on one day notice.

State's education system weaknesses gave birth to private schools and that catered for a big number of households, women got a profession to support their families, specialisation acquired, standards were raised, money poured in and many many people opted in for full time teaching in private education sector.

Then the coronavirus changed everything. 29th February 2020, was a nightmare for teachers as tuitions disappeared suddenly and schools closed down. Teachers are hit big time without any notice. Now few schools have already notified for stoppage of future salaries, a big percentage of parents have stopped paying specially at tuition centres and if they have paid then planning to stop paying any further.

Its a 360 degree threat to teachers. They are in Coronavirus firing line. No one would have ever thought that it will come so profoundly that all sources of income will brought to halt at once.

This is giving birth to new ideas both for teachers and schools like online teachings, at home assignments and papers, hidden calling of teachers at schools, reduction or denial of salaries. Many teachers lack the connections or hardware to teach remotely. More will confront the same reality as the outbreak spreads. The coronavirus pandemic could shut down schools for months, leaving some teachers wondering about their bread and butter and are already dropping far behind their needs. I see a thinning line between teachers and below poverty line ex educators. Depression, efforts for alternative arrangements, financial pressures, diminishing hope all are across the corner.

I request parents to not to take advantage. They must pay tuition fee of their children and schools must pay to their teachers on time. Schools support their teachers verbally, emotionally and financially. At least until they can.

I also suggest teaching fraternity to come forward and found a temporary fund to support each other.

I also suggest teachers to cut down on their expenditures, keep your savings handy, plan accordingly and for unlimited time. Go for online teachings, opt for alternative professions like careem etc., never feel down as it is you who have to bring bread and butter to your house tables. Most importantly, be vocal about your immediate needs as other teachers, who could help, come forward and give a hand. For teachers keeping a sense of perspective and sourcing information and advice from credible sources like school admin will help stave off anxiety. It’s important for teachers to be open about what they are experiencing, to reduce any possible stigma or embarrassment attached to it.

These circumstances are unpredictable and dangerous in their nature. Economic damage is mounting across the country. Teacher's family sit down and devise a family mechanism, have a discussion that what do they think will be the biggest challenges? What are the strengths that each family member can help out with? Discussing concerns and expectations about the quarantine/lock down, and what role each person can play to make it better, can be helpful.

Lastly for schools, it is important for schools to listen to and empathise with their teacher's fears, speak truthfully about the situation in a situation-appropriate manner and put it into context. Please have conversations for facts and feelings. Critical to allaying fears will also be allowing teachers a sense of control.