Education post-Covid, a great challenge for students

PC THOMAS

Coronavirus pandemic has influenced a huge number of young students all over the world and India is no exemption to this. All educational institutions are now wrestling with the consequences and are desperately looking for solutions for the difficulties faced by the pandemic.

When the lockdown was declared, schools, which had already incorporated E-learning platforms, could grasp the change rapidly and adjust to the new circumstance. They are connected with the students and parents through the E-learning modules and guaranteed adaptive learning process. For schools, the major challenge was to ensure acceptance of the new normal by the parents and the students. In the whole process, there have been challenges and issues; yet the parents accepted the change. Numerous parents have opted to become co-learners to facilitate the e-learning acquaintance among their children.

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The present pandemic circumstance has upset the whole educational framework, requiring revamp of the whole educational curriculum. When one looks at the current situation, it would appear that this situation may stay for quite a long time. It is admirable, however, that different government bodies and educationalists across the country are moving in the direction of discovering available resources to assist students to keep on their learning cycle while they are safe and secure at home.

In this COVID-19 time, the clear focus of educational institutions will be on modernizing technology and capacity building to provide a profound learning experience online. While each person and organization enthusiastically looks forward to the situation to normalize, it is significant for the schools to continue the learning process smoothly. Digital learning is the way forward as a significant aspect of the education system and it is time to accelerate the usage of technical tools to ensure proper delivery of lessons. For this, at least every student must have access to high-speed internet, even those who are living in isolated areas. For students who are not sufficiently equipped with basic technological tools and skills, watching pre-recorded remote learning classes will be baffling as well as frustrating.

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However, the current situation has given an open-door for the digital transformation of the education framework and the future will witness not only virtual classrooms but also parent-teacher interactions on virtual platforms. As the community of educationists pushes forward adjusting to the new normal, there will be some difficulties that they have to face.

A more urgent need is to address the mental health issues emerging from this pandemic among students and prepare them to grasp the new situation and provide them care, sympathy, appreciation, and resilience that are necessary to face the future.

Also read- poor forced to sell resource..

Looking at the above points, schools and educationists today need to make an effort to reduce the negative impact of the current scenario on the young minds. It is time for them to renew the system while adjusting to the new normal.  They also have to explore other practical alternatives to continue with the delivery of education in order to remain relevant and prepare the students for the future.

This article published in Metro Vaartha on 29.9.20

 

Poor forced to sell resources to catch up with virtual education

PC  THOMAS

In bizarre news, a man of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh sold his cow, which was his single source of income, to buy a mobile phone so that his two children could get access to online classes. As the man, Kuldeep Singh, says that he approached many bankers and money-lenders, Blade Bankers to get a loan of Rs.6,000, but no one helped him because of his financial condition doesn’t attract bankers. On the other hand, people are now persistent with frequent unwanted calls from bankers asking that – do you want a quick loan with easy features?.

Bankers and lenders should extent support for those who are in need of little funds for their survival in this corona times, so that coronavirus will not laugh at you!. In a bid to help needy people affected in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, some state-owned lenders had announced special emergency loan products, but nothing for the poor and needy for their survival.

In this corona time, to keep their children from leaving school, many helpless parents may forced to sell their valuable resources, driving them further into poverty. In the event that Covid-19 and social distancing are digging in for the long haul for an indefinite time, it is also realistically sure that online edification is definitely not a temporary marvel. In this circumstance, the governments should wake up to the increasing want of access to resources vital for internetlearning.  It is high time governments understood the advantages of investing in human capital.  Cable-TV can also be explored as an alternative option for imparting guidance, as Kerala has now sought to do.

Online classes, being video content, require 4G-resistance, whereas data charges in India are low, most handsets being used by the Indian poor people are not 4G-savvy. India’s mobile broadband is tarnished for its deprived quality, particularly in rural areas.

Online instruction cannot ever match the class-room experience, but it can democratize access to learning in circumstances where schools, teachers and libraries are not enough.

This article published in Metro Vaartha on 28.7.20- Stay updated with the Best Blog PC Thomas

E-learning challenges pushed or pulled?

GREESHMA THOMAS

Coronavirus attack has split a large portion of India's education and turned upside down the life of students, teachers and parents. As per reports, more than 150 crores students overall the world can't go to school or college, as the fight against this deadly virus brought the world to a halt.  However, this pandemic has made all the educational institutions over the planet to take up educating on the digital divide.

While the students are left with no option other than virtual learning now, many children of primary standard say that they lack a conducive environment or necessary gadgets in their homes to create an online platform. Many children have complained about having no access to the internet, laptop and mobiles, and have raised their issues with their schools too. If there is one mobile or laptop at home, they say, it might be used exclusively by the parents who are working from home as well.

At the same time, the parents have been much worried about not being able to deal with their children’s academics and their work together.  In addition, many people are stressed as they have lost their jobs and run their lives out of limited savings or by borrowing money.

The wealthier parents also face trouble in setting up an e-learning platform at home, and dealing with the timely stress and difficulties of their children. It is also difficult for them to manage their children’s activities between their own official works and household works. However, most of the wealthier parents feel comfortable with technology and hope that this is a temporary difficulty that will fade with the lifting of the lockdown and the reopening of schools, while teachers are at pains to make their classes interesting and creative for children after the opening of schools.

As millions of students around the world struggle to study at home, it remains to be seen how teachers and the educational institutions will deal with the new reality of learning at home.  Governments all over the world are making efforts to alleviate the impact of school closures and to make possible the continuity of education for all through remote learning.  

What is in store for us tomorrow? What we think about it is entirely in our own hands.  Change is inevitable even in the digital era. In the midst of the new situation created by the pandemic, it is the duty of parents to keep children engaged in activities at home wherever possible, in their usual routines in line with their learning. This will support their wellbeing, connection with others and their learning to match with the digital push. Regardless of whether we utilize the opportunities vis-à-vis the current pandemic time, it will pass by. Better that we navigate correctly in our journey for our bright future and for a better world tomorrow.

This article published in Metro Vaarth on 29.6.2020