Covid-19 has created a new class of youths. They are called as NEET (Not in education, employment or training). They are not labelled as unemployed but on the contrary, they are not engaging themselves in any creativity.
The grim situation has compelled the teachers, parents and educationalists to adopt a concept of remote learning with technology. Some academicians came out with an idea of micro schooling. Both the ideas worked and spiked up the interest among students and teachers. Out of these two ideas, remote learning or online teaching and learning was the first preference.
A survey made by BARC INDIA and Nielsen in this current pandemic situation reveals that, there is a 30 percent increase in time spent in educational app by students. Many students are unhappy because they have not interacted with their peers for a long time.
They want that old academic situation to come back. In order to address this problem, many educational institutions are contemplating the notion of Digital plus Physical. A blended learning environment will be introduced where a student has to adopt both digital or online learning and physical learning. Off course this plan cannot be materialised now. It’s a long-term plan.
A survey by Harris poll on behalf of Pearson reveals that 80 percent students think that educational institution will fundamentally change the scope of its operation – means digital plus physical learning will be adopted sooner or later.
As many as 88 percent students positively feel that online teaching and learning will be a part of higher education system.
A subtle difficulty will appear with this blended or hybrid learning activity. It will be an obstacle for the poor and underprivileged students as far as learning is concerned.
Here comes the real problem, 87 per cent students think not everyone has the access to technology and 84 percent considers online education in the pandemic time has digitally divided the students; those who have access to technology and those don’t have.
Yes, it is an unavoidable scene. Many of the students don’t have smart phones or internet or even electricity. Two students, one in Punjab and another one in Kerala, have committed suicide because of lack of access to technolgy and no smartphones for online education.
Remote learning for higher education cannot be possible with this type of poor technological infrastructure. Technology is a bridge but in many cases it is a jack which connects but widens the gap. And in a pandemic it is a jack. Another survey by Pearson also shows that 77 percent students are agreed with the concept to reopen colleges for a healthy society.
Economic growth and sustainability for generation must be balanced. But continuous lockdown and less positive signs to control the pandemic have put an insurmountable task before many higher education institutes to reopen. There are many challenges which can be foreseen.The first challenge is student’s retention and persistence. The second one is teaching and learning. We never know the strategies to cope with when educational institutions will open.
How to arrange class , what will be the seating arrangement, what will be the hostel boarding and if it is digital learning we know that many institutions and their staff are not well versed and well equipped with technology. Post pandemic, education scene will be very dramatic and stressful.
The National Mission on Education for Information Technology (MNEICT) is planning for a new educational channel which could be an answer to modern educational crisis due to Covid 19. The MNEICT offers a kaleidoscopic view of modern ways of learning to students, whose education and learning activities are at standstill for six months. The MNEICET is also very meticulous about content development. It engages best faculty by keeping students retention in view.
It depends on DTH service to deliver the content to students all across India.This may work to reach most of the students including those who don’t have access to smart technology like smart phone or internet.
As per a survey, accessibility to DTH is 70 percent where as smart phone is accessed by only 35 percent of Indians. Most of us are aware of SWAYAM PRABHA , a combination 32 DTH channels . Hope SWAYAM PRABHA may be roped in to help many of students in this Covid 19 situation where teaching and learning is in halt. Alternative learning has two benefits such as first, the study materials, lectures and video lessons developed by teachers are being sent through WhatsApp groups and uploaded on the department’s Youtube channel e-Suvidya and secondly, places where students do not have smartphones or internet access, mentor teachers are engaged to provide academic clarity to students and impart life skills training at their doorsteps.
It is reported that this alternative learning is adopted by as many as 51,000 tribal students with smartphones and internet connection and more than 4,500 mentor teachers have been engaged with 21,239 tribal villages.
Thanks to the ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department of Odisha which came up with Alternative Learning and Mentorship Programme (ALMP) in June 2020, such a wider coverage has been possible. The School and Mass Education Department had launched online classes for Class-X students through Diksha application in April 2020.
In this initiative the learning materials as well as worksheets were provided to primary, upper primary students and elementary level students through WhatsApp.
The department authenticated that online education through Diksha application reached 22 lakh out of the total 60 lakh students under it including those from tribal districts.
(Dr Parida is an Assistant Professor at Sophitorium Group of Institutions, Khordha. Email: abash.parida@gmail.com Mob: 8456879522)