Starting in the Chinese city of Wuhan, nobody believed that coronavirus could have such far-reaching impact. Along with the businesses, jobs and economy, education is also being affected by this outbreak. It is true for all students, in general, and for those students who were to give their board and Cambridge exams in the upcoming May-June session, in particular.

However, it’s not all bad. There is a silver lining to the cloud of coronavirus. Students have been given time for preparation, they have been given time to relax and to cover up their shortcomings.

Here are some of the ways students can make full use of these days off from schools and colleges.

Preparing for exams

Exams have been postponed, though indefinitely, but not cancelled. Hence, it is a golden opportunity to prepare for the exams properly which, in the ordinary circumstances, would have been difficult to do.

Starting with making an outline of the syllabus, students can put in a longer time to study each chapter of each subject, thus strengthening their command over a particular concept. This, in turn, will be useful for their upcoming exams.

Having leisure time

There is more to life than just studying. We’ve got a mind that needs to remain fresh, we’ve got a body that needs to be maintained and we’ve got relations that need to be upheld.

These days off from school are a golden opportunity to work on all these areas. On the contrary to school days, students can now play indoor games, watch TV, have rest and restore their energies for the days to follow.

Trying something new

Most of us want to do so many things and school days keep us too busy to fulfil our longings. This school closure time is ideal for such students.

Apart from studying, they can learn something new on the internet, read or write about something other than academics, do extracurricular activities and anything else that they want.

Following your ‘ideal’ routine

Most of us must have been following a routine during the school days, but that was all boring stuff! Days off from school give us the opportunity to make our ‘ideal routine’ and then follow it.

For instance, one may exercise in the morning, study in the afternoon, and play games in the evening and watch TV at night.

Staying on track

For students, studying is the most important thing, if not the only thing that should matter. But students are more likely to deviate from the track of studying and doing hard work during such vacation as compared to the normal school days.

Deviating from the track would mean ruining the hard work put in throughout the year.

Obviously, none of us would want this to happen. Therefore, we should make studying the top priority even in these holidays.

Taking care

The coronavirus pandemic is widespread and contagious. It is a matter of concern because no treatment or vaccine of this disease has been invented, so far. Days off from school are the outcome of the preventive measures for this disease.

Hence, it is important to follow the instructions of WHO to abstain from becoming a part of large gatherings and, most importantly, ask Allah for help against this pandemic.

Nobody can afford to become a victim of coronavirus, particularly not students who are at a bifurcating stage of their lives.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 4th, 2020