The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it a host of challenges on various fronts. One significant area that has taken a major hit is the education sector. The second wave of the virus has resulted in an unprecedented setback to the educational structure across India, affecting millions of students.
Concerns Over the Impact of Covid-19 on Education
A prominent worry surrounding education in the pandemic includes issues with online education. Originally conceived as an alternative method of disseminating knowledge, its success has been hit-and-miss given the specific circumstances Indian students face.
Online education’s availability and affordability act as barriers, proving to be a privilege for upper and middle-class students, while turning into a nuisance for those from the lower middle class and below poverty line.
The Downside of Long-Term Internet Exposure
Additionally, there are concerns about the implications of prolonged internet exposure for children. These include possible hindrances to the development of their cognitive thinking processes. Further, there is a decrease in analytical thinking as students tend to rely heavily on Google for answers.
Facing Social Isolation Amid Pandemic
Physical distancing measures during the pandemic have led to a feeling of isolation among students. This can leave a profound psychological impact on students, considering they lack physical interaction and activities.
Constructive Means to Overcome the Challenges
There are several measures which can help us overcome these challenges. Effective use of infrastructure, focusing on classroom teaching and creating new facilities if necessary should be prioritized. To compensate for the lack of classroom teaching, institutions should consider generating new, self-explanatory content based on existing syllabus.
The teachers and non-teaching staff should monitor students’ progress by visiting their localities weekly. A new evaluation system focusing on analysis abilities rather than rote learning can be developed.
Also, the government needs to play its role in accelerating the vaccination process for the teaching community to hasten the restoration of regular learning.
Government Initiatives to Promote E-Learning
Several measures have been undertaken by the Ministry of Human Resource Development such as the E-PG Pathshala, an online content provider, or SWAYAM, an integrated platform for online courses. Other initiatives include NEAT and the PRAGYATA guidelines to ensure maximum effectiveness of online education.
The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) project was launched in 2003 by seven IITs along with the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, with a goal to offer web and video courses in engineering, sciences, and management.
Moving Forward
Covid-19 has starkly revealed the extent of educational inequality in India, warranting renewed commitments towards synergizing private and public education sectors. Making education a common good through digital innovation is the need of the hour.
In sum, while the pandemic has posed severe challenges to the Indian education system, it also offers an opportunity to address long-standing issues and reimagine education in a more accessible, inclusive, and effective manner.
Source: IE