My point in yesterday’s column was that given the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) view on the preventative value of closing schools, I could understand why Bahrain’s authorities decided to do so. They are, after all, only trying to keep children out of harm’s way.

But, despite the fact that WHO says closing schools can restrict the spread of a pandemic and ease the burden on health services by 30 per cent to 50pc, I think it would be best to keep them open.

The same WHO report also points out the serious disadvantages of the wholesale closure of schools, not least the impact on the economy.

It says closure can lead to the absence of up to 16pc of a nation’s workforce as parents who normally work are forced to stay at home to look after their children.

The WHO also cites potential damage to the well-being of children by taking them out of the controlled school environment for any real length of time, particularly in terms of social support and in cases where children rely on school meals.

Even in Bahrain, where many people have housemaids, few would be comfortable leaving their children in their care all day, particularly amongst the expatriate community.

There is great strength to the argument that, even though no-one really yet knows how the H1N1 virus may mutate, it is unlikely to pose a serious threat to normally healthy children.

Special needs children often have underlying health problems that would make them more vulnerable and those of kindergarten age should also be subject to extra caution.

But keeping children at home as winter begins is likely to dampen their immunity defences and leave them more exposed later.

Far better to reopen schools under strict health supervision, with measures in place should there be more than isolated cases in any particular school.

The impact of this blanket closure order on children’s education and development, as well as on their families, is huge.

Not all parents get company help with their school fees and struggle to pay bills for an education that is now being curtailed.

They may want their money back, but schools will be unable or unwilling to pay it, for they too have bills they must meet in order to continue.

I know of one person who has just founded a school, which was due to open with the new term but, of course, cannot.

But she will still have to pay her staff, the monthly BD10 fee charged by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority for every foreign worker and their Gosi contributions.

All this on top of a sizeable rent for the premises – but with no income.

That the authorities have chopped and changed their minds so often, before taking this catastrophic decision, has undermined public faith.

What they should do now is listen to public and reconsider a decision that affects somewhere in the region of 200,000 government and private school pupils and their families. lhorton@gdn.com.bh