Winning essay within the global campaign “Protect Our Education”, developed by Save the Children.

There are no words that can describe that difficult time, it was a time that everyone was experiencing in the worst possible way. Children were forced to learn through telephones, computers, televisions. Of course no one would want to experience it, but we were obliged, wherever you went we should not forget the masks, gloves, disinfectant and the distance that had to be kept. If I turned on the television, I regretted, I wanted to cry, that pain when I heard that every day people are dying, every day the cases with Covid-19 were increasing, how much pain. Ah, that pain when you see how badly that period is being experienced, when you could not go to school for the disease that had gripped the whole world.

After a long time we went back to school, that feeling was an indescribable feeling, that feeling when you look at your classmates after a while, when you look at the teachers giving the maximum to compensate for that part which we were not clear about during online learning. Even why you did not look at the smiles on the children’s faces, not because they did not smile but from the masks, you could see their eyes shone, they ran from happiness, they were more willing than ever to learn. Of course, online learning had a negative impact on the mental health of children, perhaps it was also affected by the carelessness of parents, I hate the fact that after any bad news about the pandemic situation, they were discussed in the presence of children, then children were stressed and experienced even more severely that situation, this has affected the health of children. There came a time when if you coughed everyone would look like you were a monster. The city was empty, only policemen were everywhere on the streets. It was hard to get out of the store, let alone go to school.

Elementary schools taught through television, it would be much easier and more understandable perhaps not for the lower cycle (grades 1-5), but for the upper cycle (grades 6-9) if they learned with the zoom application, for the reason that it would be much clearer and if you were asked a question then it would be less complicated if they were to communicate via zoom!

While the lesson was being explained on television even though it was being explained very well, no interest was being shown by the children, no interest was being shown to get the information which is needed and would definitely have to be decomposed if it were to be clarified in schools or through zoomit. We should not forget the fact that many children who may have expressed interest in learning but the equipment with concrete tools that enable online learning is missing, whether tablets, television or even school supplies. It is also the fact that the mentality of the parents does not allow the child to go to any psychologist, which I think is necessary for 85% of children to have consulted with psychologists!

Parents do not consult their children with psychologists and do not allow them to be vaccinated and then leave disappointed how children are not being provided with education on a regular basis! The question arises as to why the children got angry during the pandemic period, eh yes the answer is known, the carelessness of parents or legal guardians, not consulting psychologists. Parents or legal guardians should definitely encourage you, support your children. Also, the schools where physical education was provided should be equipped with psychologists / therapists where children can present the problems they have with themselves. It is not enough for children, especially in primary schools, to have a complaint box where they can address the problems they have with the class or with the school, they need someone who can understand the problems with themselves or with the problems that have nothing to do with with school.

We as children hope that this situation will be calmed down as soon as possible, that parents or legal guardians will be more careful about the mental health of children. Also let’s not forget the safeguards, Corona is still here, Corona is still taking life! Protect yourself, protect society, protect family with a few very simple steps: Do not forget the mask! Keep your distance!