Impact Of Covid-19 on Education
COVID-19 pandemic has
significantly impacted every aspect of life,
not only in India but also
across the globe. Till August 2020, total cases
around the globe was about
3.4 billion. The prolonged closure of schools
triggered by this rising
figure, has brought along huge challenges for the education sector.
Education is the back bone
of the nation and is infact one of the parameters,
for measuring the progress
of a country. During the outbreak of the pandemic,
It was observed that in
very crowded classrooms, it became almost impossible
for children particularly,
to adhere to the norms of social distancing and hygiene.
Given the rapid pace at
which the disease is spreading, schools had been shut for
months together. This has
undoubtedly affected students in a big way. Isolation from
not only classmates and
classroom situations but also from community at large has
pushed them to a
shell. As a result anxiety and stress has severly affected their
mental
health. A sense of
lonliness has taken roots in their minds.
However, at such times, governments and authorities have not been mere
mute spectators to the
situation. In India governments of every state, with the help
of state education
departments, have been taking several measures, to reduce the
anxiety of the
students. In order to ensure a continuity in learning, the concept
of
e-learning had been
introduced. Besides promoting learning through YouTube and
internet contents, a few
e-learning portals have been created like DIKSHA,
SEBA Online Portal etc.,
to support their learning. The Swayam Prabha channel
launched by the MHRD, as
well as programmes like Pratidin Patshala has been
broadcasting classes by
experts on course related topics. The availability of free
e-books is providing a
great opportunity for learners to acquire knowledge.
Moreover, to facilitate a
regularity in learning, on-line classes by concerned subject
eachers over Whatsapp,
Zoom app etc., have made things a lot easier for them.
Through these virtual
platforms, teachers have provided counselling and awareness
among both parents and
students, about issues of mental wellbeing.
Initially, students and teachers were facing a lot of problems, specially where,
maximum students had no
access to smart phones and even if they had one,
they didn't have the
knowledge to use it. These were some of the challenges
facing the e-learning
process in Indian schools. In the beginning students felt anxious,
stressed out and even
deprived at times. Similar problems were faced by the teachers
as well. In absence of
sound knowledge of technology they are compelled to use the
digital medium for
carrying out classes. However, with growing awareness these
are
turning out to be things
of the past. Even amidst these challenges, the efforts of some
teachers have been really
commendable, who have explored and learnt these
applications on their own
and are using them effectively.
E-learning is an interesting, interactive and effective way of learning for everyone,
E-learning is an interesting, interactive and effective way of learning for everyone,
be it students
teachers or parents. It has created a climate for exploring technology
by young and old alike.
The digital knowledge would go a long way in enhancing the
conventional education
system. We see in this, a new revolution, brought about by
Covid 19 in the field of
education.
************************************
Maskura Begom
Assistant
Teacher
Champupara High
School
Chhaygoan
Block,
Kamrup
