Changing scenario of education during Covid-19
New perspectives in the education sector
December 2019 would be remembered as one of the most remarkable times in world history, as this year witnessed the changing of the world into a quite difficult phase of modern ages. A city Wuhan in china become came into the spotlight due to an influenza-like virus which later on was named the coronavirus or covid-19.
In a short span of time, this virus engulfed the whole world. An infectious disease primarily affecting the human respiratory system. An infected person was prone to death if he is not administered special treatment. The death toll in many countries was high. The number of infections was increasing day by day. At the start of 2020, the whole of the world was in a fix. There two main challenges in saving the lives of people and overcoming these unprecedented diseases. Normal life activities came to a halt. Every government around the world adopted lockdown as a very first step to keep the people safe during the Covid-19.
Coronavirus changed the life
Lockdown was considered an effective strategy to slow down the transmission of Coronavirus. Governments implemented restrictions on the gathering of people.
There were certain exemptions for coming out of home for medical or other necessities of life. Coronavirus halted the journeys from a place to another. There was no business activity or it was being resumed on a minimum level. people were in doldrum as they were forced to stay home and on the other side, they were losing their sources of income.
The fear of disease and insufficient earning resulted in mental disturbance and depression. They were no gatherings. There was no opportunity to enjoy food outdoor. For example, in Italy, the culture of coffee bars is quite common. It is part of a tradition that people enjoy coffee on coffee bars but soon after the wave of corona bars was closed. Even during the short endings of restrictions, people were not comfortable enjoying their toast or coffee in bars.
Impacts of Covid-19 on education
Coronavirus affected the education sector globally. With all other normal life activities education process was also halted. Restrictions on gathering and free movement resulted in the closure of educational institutions worldwide. Schools and universities were closed during the outbreak.
Students were to live at home. According to few estimates, billions of students in 195 countries were out of the classroom during the outbreak of coronavirus. Globally Closure of the educational institutions was not a short-term issue to resolve. it was impacting the future perspectives of human capital as well as immediate loss of educational opportunity for students. In most countries, classes and exams were postponed for an indefinite period.
Impact on the life of students
University as well as school and college-going students during the lockdown were the subjects of various kinds of physical and mental disturbance. Many public health surveys showed that this isolation affected the lives of students. The absence of regular routines like visiting the school, classes, and physical activities caused frustration among the students. fear of missing academic years also disturbed many students.
According to experts a school, college, or university environment deeply impacts the attitude and behaviors of the students. It regularises the mental and physical health standards. Apart from socialization, it helps them to learn and acquire new skills. It proves to learn as well training about the different social phenomenon in life. Lockdown was a period of utter depression and frustration of students regardless of their age and level of studies. They were facing isolation along with the absence of any productive activity. This was difficult for students to maintain their creativity and learning during the pandemic days.
What were the problems to resume education during Covid-19?
The contagious nature of Covid-19 was compelling to keep the educational institutions closed to avoid gather. The chances of the spread of disease were many times high during a gathering. So the opening of universities and other educational institutions was risky for the health and lives of the students. Health and Safety remained detrimental factors to keep the institutions closed during the lockdown. During the normal days, it is the routine process that students come to classes to read the syllabus which is later on followed by series of exams as well as assignments. During the covid-19 due to restrictions and necessary distance to avoid the spread of coronavirus, it was an uphill task to have regular classes.
E-Learning, online classes, and digital education during Covid-19
It is fact that when educational institutions were compelled to move on the online platforms instantly. There was no planning or technical preparedness to instantly adapt the e-learning as well as e-teaching. Students were not such familiar with taking courses online on campuses as well. Academics as students were facing two different challenges
- academics to acquire skills to teach online without compromising standards of teaching
- Students to enable themselves to have online classes
Educational institutions responded to the situations and immediately educational modules were prepared to respond to the situation.
Challenges to online education
Thus, the students and teacher came across another challenge of management of the classroom online. Virtual or online studies have many technical aspects like
- Having a compatible device to run the applications like zoom, google meet, or any other online calling application.
- Sufficient knowledge of the use of the internet i.e especially in developing countries.
- Time management from both ends i.e for a teacher as well as for students
- To Come up with a total change strategy of teaching and learning.
- To continue lessons outside of the classroom on an online platform for a long.
Last words
The new format of acquiring education as well as imparting education is bringing new spendings to the family budget. Especially in the countries where per capita income is not at that level to bear unexpected expenses. So schooling of the children would be becoming hard to meet. Drop out ratio may increase or not but this would affect the learning of the students.
These are a few challenges which be enlisted here while managing online classes. But as a covid-19 pandemic is expanding in the form of the second and third waves so the new plans would help to overcome and develop new strategies in the education sector.
Be Open Says;
Writers! Let’s be open!
Writers should take this!