- Soumya Negi
In the march of 2020, schools, universities and education centres got completely shut for the first time, examinations got postponed and classes got suspended . In any crisis, education is what comes foremost. So schools and colleges resumed instantaneously through the online medium. It's been a year to this, so let’s talk about how beneficial online education is, proven in India.
With the rise and fall in the cases in the early pandemic, practically everything became online. From school lectures to office meetings. It suited some and not so the others. While most people still preferred in person meetings, many became accustomed and adapted to the idea of seeking everything from the reach of their home.
Online education is simply defined as acquisition of knowledge through the internet. Its format has changed drastically over the past years, and so has people’s outlook on it. While a few years ago, considering full time online courses, might have been considered odd, with the privilege of having it as an option . However, in the current times, online education is a mere necessity and perhaps the most practical medium of education in use.
India and online schools
The dependency of the country on online education in the current scenario of the raging pandemic is conspicuous . India has about 35 million students enrolled in higher education contributing to a small gross enrolment ratio (GER) of 26 per cent. The rural population accounts for 22% of this.
With the onset of online school, students whose families were able to afford a laptop or smartphone for the purpose, were able to adjust to the new medium. However, for many in rural India, such technologies remain luxuries, and hence the shutting down of physical classes meant a pause in their schooling.
Digital deprivation among rural india in the past year has led many students to believe that they would drop out. It is not just the unavailability of a device, but it has many other aspects to it. Stable electricity, high speed Internet, and the inability of many government schools to cooperate and function online. Many teachers in the rural area are unequipped to teach by themselves to teach via the Internet, and many simply are unable to understand the functioning of the online system.
What can the government do?
The lack of government efforts in handling the functioning of schools in rural sectors, has led many students to miss out on their studies. According to the Annual State Education Report survey, two-thirds of rural children in India reported they did not receive learning materials or activities at all during the period of pandemic. Additionally, one in three children had no learning activity during this time.
The government in its response has released the PRAGYATA Guidelines on Digital Education and Internet access under BHARAT NET scheme. Keeping in view the availability of digital infrastructure, guideline briefs on various modes of digital education. And the latter aims at providing better internet connectivity in rural areas.
However these are not enough,the country’s overall digital literacy levels need to be improved in order to make the most of technology-based education. There are several private trusts aimed at the same. For instance, in districts of Tamil Nadu, anganwadis have been set up, which are run by community members such as school teachers, students, parents and government agencies to ensure education for all. More of these initiatives along with the support of the government, can provide the much needed growth in rural education, in the current scenario of COVID.
Effects of online education in students
While online classes might seem convenient and hassle free, that’s not the case in reality. Students are expected to attend lectures for four to eight hours a day, finish assignments, give tests, all via the Internet. This provides a massive strain on the eyes, and the mental health of a child. The latter being the highly disregarded, by parents and teachers.
The environment of social isolation created by this, had led many teenagers and young adults to develop stress and anxiety. Virtual learning fatigue is another cause of restrained activity and constant online schooling. Parents and teachers need to join hands to help students cope with such issues.
Online learning is also fast becoming the order of the future, with the world now moving towards virtual universities (VU), which means no concrete campuses and no physical presence of staff.
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