Thanks Chaiwe for bringing this thread back to the top.
The situation for schools in Africa seems cautiously optimistic. I worry that the situation for Indian school pupils must be terrible right now. (and Brazil?) And that's after last year India did so well with keeping the virus in check. Very sad.

A related topic but not limited to WASH is in this article:
"Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic"
www.pnas.org/content/118/17/e2022376118

It's pretty interesting and worrisome. Basically, they took Netherlands as an example and found quite some learning losses. 

The findings imply that students made little or no progress while learning from home and suggest losses even larger in countries with weaker infrastructure or longer school closures.

Stay safe, everyone.

Elisabeth

Only IF schools will adhere to these simple protocols, then the spread of this deadly virus would have long been curtailed.

Here in Africa, quite a few proportions of schools adhere to these protocols.

Dear All,

I would like to bring this thread back to the top as a way of tracking progress on interventions in schools around the world now that learners in most parts of the world have resumed learning for a while now.

With the rapid closure of schools across the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and young people, especially those in crisis-affected contexts lost an important space that offered them stability and safety, even as the environment around them grew more uncertain.  After many months since the beginning of various lockdowns and school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening schools was necessary and essential. Interruptions to classroom-based instructions widened existing inequalities for vulnerable populations and reduced access to learning for a large fraction of the world’s children and youth. As school doors have continued to reopen in many countries, measures like handwashing stations, physical distancing, mask-wearing and temperature checks have been integrated into school life. Here’s a glimpse of what a return to school looks like for students in some countries: www.unicef.org/stories/heading-back-school-pandemic 

PHOTO EXTRACT:

So far, data suggests that children below eighteen years represent about 8.5% of reported cases, with relatively few deaths compared to other age groups and usually mild disease. However, cases of critical illness have been reported. As with adults, pre-existing medical conditions have been suggested as a risk factor for severe disease and intensive care admission in children. Further studies are underway to assess the risk of infection in children and to better understand transmission in this age group.  The role of children in transmission is not yet fully understood. To date, few outbreaks Involving children or schools have been reported.  See more here

In Malawi, the country’s education minister committed part of USD 6 million earmarked for school reopenings to drilling boreholes and procuring soap. Some schools require students to produce COVID-19-negative certificates to be allowed into class. See more here 

In Nigeria, on the other hand, schools have resumed learning with adherence to regulations, schools no longer hold morning assembly due to social distancing guidelines and school time has been cut to fewer hours with no extra-curricular activities. UNICEF has supported the stakeholder sensitization meetings and teacher training on how to demonstrate proper handwashing, the correct use of face masks, and the appropriate way to socially distance. see more here 

I also came across a policy tool kit that can be used by policymakers and school administrators during this pandemic as more plan to reopen schools and one of the recommendations to ensuring a safe learning environment, policymakers are urged to pair school-based hygiene promotion with the distribution of waterless hand sanitizer and/or soap in places where handwashing stations are readily available. See more here. 

During this pandemic, it is important that the sanitation sector remains aware that children require guidance and resources to practice good hygiene as they return to school, practicing simple hygiene steps to prevent the spread of the virus-like washing hands with soap and water multiple times a day or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer is something that the sector can continue to influence. 

Regards,
Chaiwe

Thank you Linda,

It is okay. I do hope you will still be on the lookout for someone, at least, that can do the crosschecks, as this would be needed subsequently. You can reach out to lecturers in Yoruba language studies, and I am sure they would be of great help.

Do enjoy the rest of the day.

Warm regards, Oluwafemi.

Hi Oluwafemi,

Thanks for asking. Our problem with the Yoruba version is that so far we couldn't find anyone who could do the quality check for your translation. So sorry about that, but this is a precondition.
Let's communicate again via email! 

Kind regards
Linda

Dear Malini,
I'd like to know more about the SOPs you mentioned; particularly interested as my own institution has been hesitant (rightly so) to reopen hostels. I hear of many other institutions also treading with caution. It would be great if you could post them here for benefit of others (Understand they may be in Telugu, but believe people will translate if they need. ) 

Thanks
paresh

Dear Oluwafemi,

Linda asked me to upload the library entry and to post the update on the available versions and languages. However, as she is the person in charge and coordinating the translation of the "10 immediate WASH in schools (WinS) actions", I cannot answer your question. But I am sure, Linda will respond next week to your question.

Best

Finn

Dear Finn, thank you for the job well done. How about the Yoruba version?

Dear all,

The Arabic, Spanish, Swahili and Tamil versions of the 10 Action Points have now been finalized and uploaded. 

www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resource...library/details/3855

Translated versions in Hindi, French and Portuguese will follow.
Also from my and the SuSanA secretariat site many thanks to all who translated on a voluntary basis!

Best regards
Finn

Dear all,

As already announced, we are working on translations for the 10 Action Points.
This process takes more time than we thought. 
However, first translations are finalized and we uploaded already the Khmer version:

www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resource...library/details/3855

Translated versions in Tamil, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Swahili will follow. 
Many thanks to all who translated on a voluntary basis!

Best wishes
Linda

Dear Chaiwe,

Many thanks for raising this topic about what to do!
End of June there was a virtual Mini-International Learning Exchange where experiences from especially the East Asia and Pacific Region was shared. 
We uploaded different country presentations and also a presentation about the challenges to reopen schools here: 
www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/training...ning-of-schools-2020
There is also a best practice from a campaign WaterAid is implementing in India. Maybe this is useful information for you.
Unfortunately, it got also clear that there is no one-fits-all approach for all countries and settings.
But there are definitely also solutions for low-income settings, where water is scarce. You can e.g. still have different shifts in schools, and construct low-cost tippy taps for children to wash their hands.
Kindly let me know, if the material is helpful. There will also be a conference report available soon.

Kind regards
Linda

Dear All, 

As the number of countries globally and especially on the African continent begin to lighten the restrictions, and in many cases open up schools to learners. These 10 immediate WASH in schools (WinS) actions become necessary actions for schools to ensure the safeguarding of health during this COVID pandemic. 

However, I would like to hear more about the efforts that are deliberately being put in place to ensure that these recommended actions are really being considered and relevant action is being taken to ensure that the health of learners is safeguarded. How do these actions become a reality in the most vulnerable communities where access to cleaning products is challenging, water is scarce and classrooms are packed beyond capacity? What deliberate actions are being taken by your countries' governments, NGOs, and cooperating partners? 

Zambia last month opened up schools for children in examination classes only. With that, the Ministry of General Education (MoGE) released a country-specific Education Contingency Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) April 2020- September 2021 
See here:  www.moge.gov.zm/education-contingency-pl...oronavirus-covid-19/     and in May 2020 released COVID-19 Guidelines for Schools  find attached an extract of the checklist contained within the guidelines.

Regards,
Chaiwe