Education is essential to move towards more just societies and fight poverty, especially in developing countries. However, when education is interrupted, children who depend on school programs to also access some basic services, such as food and nutrition, are exposed to greater vulnerability because, during the time they do not go to school they stop receiving those services.
The San José Community Child Development Center from the CSP in Mexico committed itself from the beginning of the pandemic to guarantee that educational and food programs were not affected by the contingency, and, despite the difficulties, on July 9 the center was able to celebrate the graduation of 32 boys and girls from Preschool Three, who will begin a new stage in primary school next school year, after the summer.
Since the start of the pandemic, in mid-March 2020, all schools in Mexico have been closed, and education is being taught remotely. All children and adolescents carry out their homework and school activities from home. The main challenge is the enormous social-educational inequalities, with many families in a state of vulnerability such that they have not been able to access new ways of imparting education with the help of technology.
During the 2020-2021 school year we were working together from the San José Center with the parents to guarantee the proper development of the children cared for in the center: presential educational activities and community dining service were maintained by organizing the children in groups, never exceeding 30% of the capacity of the center, and observing the sanitary protection measures.
This school year that has now ended was marked by many changes, as we were working with fewer children a day and complementing it with distance learning activities. Two months before the end of the year, the epidemiological traffic light of the Covid-19 pandemic allowed us to work with all Preschool Three children and support them in their weak areas to prepare them for their new stage of training.
We celebrated this achievement with a Eucharist and a small graduation ceremony for the 32 boys and girls from Preschool 3, accompanied by a family member and the center team. A positive aspect in this situation has been the collaboration of the parents, who have been more attentive than in the past. They understood the gravity of the moment and that their cooperation was essential for the benefit of the children.
One month before the start of the new 2021-2022 school year, the country continues to register new infections, as well as an increase in the rebound due to the third wave of Covid-19. The educational authorities have finally announced the return to face-to-face classes, which has created divided opinions among parents.
The challenge of the San José Center for the next school year will also be to be able to maintain the good mental health of the little ones, who need to interact with each other, and continue to guarantee the continuity of their learning in the challenging context of the pandemic.
