Broken Wings

For they knew but careless. Careless about our children being school denied, for such a protracted period. In fact, this column’s warnings were innumerable. However, they despise the messenger, so they disregarded his message. For they were warned, vulnerable children school locked out, are at risk of being abused. Sexual abuse. Physical abuse. Mental abuse. Emotional abuse. Further, they were warned, children are social beings, therefore separation, would deskill their social skills. Which means, on school return, many would be antisocial. Furthermore, they were warned, of the mental-health implications of protracted school closure. Anxieties. Depressions. Phobias. Emotional distresses. PTSDs. Self-harms. Suicides. Where this was the message, underpinned by evidence, schools should be reopened first.

However, that they also disregarded, for hotels they reopened. Brothels they reopened. Rum-shops they reopened. Casinos they reopened. Movie theatres they reopened. Malls they reopened. Strip clubs they reopened. Restaurants they reopened. And with all they reopened, schools remained locked.

Which meant, at home, our vulnerable children abuses escalated. Social deskilling escalated. Anxieties escalated. Depressions escalated. Phobias escalated. Emotional distresses escalated. PTSD escalated. Self-harm escalated. Suicide awaited.

Which means, in this context, the inevitable academic decline is inconsequential, when viewed through the lens of life and death. However, these tragedies aren’t inconsequential. The many school girls raped, with 78 impregnated, during the 2yrs of school closure. The many abused, evidence by the increased classroom antisocial behaviour. Anxieties. Depressions. Emotional distresses. PTSDs. Phobias. Suicidal ideations. The large numbers who’ve disengaged from the educational system, down to the protracted school closure—Educational hysteresis.

Where this the excruciating reality, the wealthy parents financed private tutors, during those 2yrs of schools closures. However, economically deprived children didn’t have such privileges. Thus, the consequence we see—A widening of the education achievement gap, between the rich and the poor.

Notwithstanding this widened educational gap, impoverished children are further handicapped by mental burdens, thus are more likely to disrupt classrooms. However, such are often misunderstood, since our overworked teachers haven’t time for psychoanalysis. But such aren’t just bad behaviour, rather they’re desperate cries for help. Help that’s PPP denied, for these children register among the poor nobodies, in our society.

Thus, the frequently overlooked, the economic consequences of the virus, on our children’s mental health. For many are without a meal. Without deodorant. Without sanitary napkins. Without soap. Without toothpaste. Where such absent basic necessities, add to their anxieties. Anxieties about body odour. Anxieties about their next meal. Anxieties about periods without pads. Anxieties that are evidence in behaviours. Behaviours that are misunderstood.

And for these reasons, I am angry. Very angry. For PPP is championing Guyana nice. But nice for who? Surely not these children. For Priya Manickchand, the epitome of incompetence, once had a “campaign” to return the Covid children to school. Thus, we ask of her—

How did that go?

How is the consolidated curriculum?

How is the missed 2yr education being addressed?

Any progress report on those 78 impregnated school girls?

For these traumatised children need much more than PPP gesture politics. They need psychologists. They need social workers. They need counsellors. They need family support. They don’t need corporal punishment! They don’t need to be expelled after PPP destroyed their lives and mental health.

Nevertheless, this we see, them in expensive SUVs, expecting all and many to bow at their feet. To be addressed Honourable. To be addressed Excellency. To be addressed Minister. To lower their necks, in anticipation of the obligatory garlands, from the very children. However, I’m not that forgiving, for they’ve destroyed the lives and future aspirations of our children.