Puspa Dhakal

The COVID-19 is now a pandemic affecting countries globally and Nepal is no exception. The country has relaxed closure significantly after 120 days and schools, colleges and entertainment centres are still not running.
Based on available information older people and people with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, appear to be more at risk of developing severe symptoms. Children and adolescents are also likely to become infected as any other age group and can spread the disease. As a new virus, learning about COVID-19 continues every day. Unprecedented changes created in life pattern by COVID-19 has great impact on adolescent health, which requires urgent need for focus in highlighting strategies to overcome.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines an adolescent as any person between ages 10 and 19yrs. It is a transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood with multiple ups and down. Adolescent health is determined by multiple factors like caring and meaningful relationship, positive learning environment, boundaries of behaviour, spiritual beliefs, opportunities of participation, and encouragement of self-expression.
Today’s adolescents are global citizens and powerful agents of change. With the shutdown of the school and colleges, the postponement of classes and exam of the academic year and the uncertainty regarding resuming classes are causing high levels of stress and anxiety among them. The fake news and rumours are other source of worries among them. Likewise, lack of physical activity such as outdoor sports, and reduced social interactions are also affecting their mental health.
Schools and colleges are not only place of learning. School routines are important coping mechanisms for adolescents to deal with mental health issues. Shutdown of schools, interrupted social life and restriction in movement have cut off interactions with teachers and friends and increased chances of domestic and sexual violence spikes.

Excessive screen use & gaming
Today’s adolescents are digital lovers and the increased access to new digital devices (smartphones and tablets) has contributed to a rapid rise in screen exposure in recent years. This has dramatically escalated during the lockdown. They use digital media to socialise with peers using various social networking sites like Facebook, Viber, Twitter etc and entertain playing online games as outdoor activities are largely restricted.
Excessive screen time in adolescents bring behavioural and health problems such as unhealthy eating and sleeping habits, excessive sadness, and difficulty in concentration. Apart from this unsupervised access to websites leads to exposure to harmful contents like violence, online gambling, development of gaming disorder and sometimes even cyberbullying.
The unpredictable situation in education system by COVID-19 has come up with opportunities and solution. Handful of schools and colleges are trying their best to bridge the gap adopting E-Learning. The methods include assigning reading and writing exercises for home-based study, video and audio methods, and conducting virtual classes. The pandemic is transforming the centuries-old, chalk–talk teaching model by technology.
The sudden shift of learning from the classroom to E-learning is challenging. While some people with internet access and technology struggle to participate, majority are out of reach. This gap exists throughout the country. With the beginning of E-learning there are mixed opinions. Some argue that the unplanned and rapid move to online learning with no training, sufficient bandwidth, and little preparation will result in a poor user experience while others view that a new model of education will emerge, with some benefits.
E-Learning may be useful for students in a number of ways. Learning is possible at their own pace, going back and re-reading and engaging themselves but social interaction and face-to-face engagement are hard to achieve as in classroom. Conducting formal education process online requires both competence and confidence. Effectiveness of learning depends on the level of digital literacy possessed by both parties.

Role of parents
COVID-19 is neither the first and nor will be the last virus causing pandemic. Thus instead of being in panic, living with COVID-19 is important. Regarding adolescent health, parents need to encourage children for physical activity including outdoor games whenever possible by adopting safety measures. Getting the children involved in household chores such as cooking, cleaning and gardening is beneficial. Though some conflict exists between parents and adolescents, parents should play their role for emotional support and for setting limits. As parents are role model for children, the balance between online and offline activities should first maintained by parents. An environment for reading books and other creativity such as arts and crafts, singing and dancing reduce stress and anxiety adolescence might be going through. Parents can help children in accessing the online resources that are vital for learning, socialising and playing. At the same time, parents need to be aware and alert about the signs of distress that may emerge in children in connection with online activities.
Social distancing in COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for adolescents who thrive on social connections with peers. Boundaries between work and family life is getting blurred when home is also a work and school environment. After work schedule and interaction period on social media, connection with each other within the family is foremost. Parents should be supportive and empathetic towards their children and should not force their ideas on them. Creating a consistent daily routine is important, with active involvement of children.
Diverse health issues are associated with COVID-19 pandemic among the adolescents. Shutdown of educational centres happened in quick succession as a measure to break the chain of transmission but when it comes to resuming them, the tempo is far more uncertain.
Vacated school and colleges for quarantine, unacceptable class size, hygiene promotion and social distancing are the key issues in the context of Nepal for resuming the classes. Resuming schools and colleges during this global crisis is not only a matter for returning to normal but also charting strategies for better safety.
The Ministry of Education has announced the start of school education with alternative methods. Initiation of E-learning from government level in long run opens the pathway for distance education. But access to education for all involves the minimisation of digital divide.

(Dhakal is a researcher who conducted study on adolescent behaviour.)