No instant answer on reopening schools: Amartya Sen

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Sunday said that there is no instant answer to the debate over the reopening of schools amidst the pandemic. Sen was addressing an online discussion by Pratichi.

Children are suffering a lot as schools are closed, but concerns over their health cannot be ignored if campuses reopen.

Noting there is no one solution, Sen said, "In America, there is an ongoing debate between two groups on the same issue. In India, there are different opinions. But, what may be applicable in the east of Birbhum may not work in the west of Bankura. There cannot be a readymade reply, an instant reply at hand, the situation is not so."

"Even if we put emphasis on the evaluation we must remember it is the last thing. Acquiring and sharing knowledge comes first. There are reasons to believe that the issue should be seen from different sides and perspectives," he said.

"When we learn something for the first time, when we first comprehend the matter....is that linked with evaluation? We have to see. Evaluation will be certainly of use, but how much and in what way? We have to see if there is a link between evaluation and real education," Sen pointed out.

Regarding the environmental threats, the world is aware of the problems and even knows the solutions but has not proceeded in the right path. There need to be threadbare discussions to find directions to solve the crisis, he said.

"Environment is an integral part of every work, every step taken by us," he reasoned. He further stressed on tapping alternative energy resources such as solar and nuclear to protect the environment.