The initiative examined the entire chain of safe hand hygiene (including infrastructure, behavior change, and capacity building) holistically and innovatively during this intervention to ensure sustainability. This field note outlines the planning, implementation methodology, challenges, achievements, and lessons learnt from the intervention to safely reopen schools and reduce COVID-19 risk for children, teachers, and staff.

SUMMARY

The closure of schools due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 adversely affected the growth and learning outcomes of children, especially in remote and low-income areas. Online education was promoted to reach children during lockdowns, but it had its limitations due to the digital divide and digital engagement limitations. Schools in the Indian state of Gujarat could only lastingly reopen after multiple attempts thwarted by COVID-19 waves. Several studies have shown that handwashing with soap is one of the most effective measures to ensure safe school reopening by reducing the risk of infection among children, teachers, and staff. UNICEF Gujarat supported the State Education Department in planning, designing, and installing child-friendly and COVID-19 responsive handwashing stations in targeted schools of Gujarat’s Kachchh district in India. The initiative examined the entire chain of safe hand hygiene (including infrastructure, behavior change, and capacity building) holistically and innovatively during this intervention to ensure sustainability. This field note outlines the planning, implementation methodology, challenges, achievements, and lessons learnt from the intervention to safely reopen schools and reduce COVID-19 risk for children, teachers, and staff.

Published by UNICEF on April 18, 2024, https://knowledge.unicef.org/resource/field-note-safely-reopening-schools-innovative-approach-safely-reopening-schools-kachchh