LETTER | When the government closed the schools back in October 2020, the Covid-19 numbers were in the hundreds. Several months down the road, we are reopening at the thousands.

We (the parents and children) have been struggling to cope with the endless frequent changes thrown at us.

We understand the need to reopen the schools for those less fortunate and those who are unable to cope. We understand the risks to the children's social development and mental health if they are kept at home. However, we decided to keep our children home as we deem the risk of contracting Covid-19 too high for our families.

In July 2020, parents were given an option to keep their children home. The Ministry of Education stated that we would be allowed to do so by providing a letter to the school.

Unfortunately, no support was given to us. When we requested our school teachers to provide us with the list of homework to be completed, we were told to obtain it from a fellow student/classmate (whom we need to find ourselves).

We are at our wit's end. We try to understand every party, empathising with their difficulties. We understand the schools' difficulties, the teachers' workload and other parents' concerns. But what about us? Who is empathising with us? Why are we being blindsided?

At our own cost and time, we keep our kids home, providing them with as much education as we can and hoping for a little support from others so that we are allowed to do so.

Please, it has been almost a year, dear MOE. Can we have a more holistic plan and support? Our children, too, need help.

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