The impact of the Covid-19 virus is multifaceted and has unequivocally affected almost all sectors, particularly the health, economic and education sectors. Since the announcement of the virus as a pandemic in March 2020, there has been a plethora of daily reports on its impact on the lives of millions across the world. Accordingly, every country’s primary concern has become to diminish the spread of the virus and control its effects on society in general, and more vulnerable communities in particular. Everyone around the world is compelled to maintain social distancing to prevent the further spread of the virus.
India has the world’s second-largest education system, after China. Shutting schools and colleges to maintain social distancing amidst the COVID-19 crisis was the most logical solution to avoid community transmission. As the number of cases started rising in the country and the world, the Government of India declared a countrywide lockdown of all educational institutions in March 2020. Classes were suspended and examinations of schools, colleges, and universities, including entrance tests, were postponed in a period of confusion and uncertainty. As the days went by with no immediate solution to stop the outbreak of Covid-19, school and university closures not only affected the continuity of learning for millions of young learners in India but also generated far-reaching economic and societal consequences.
When it seemed like the shutdown of all educational institutions would be for much longer than expected as the covid-19 cases kept increasing, the government advised the institutions to switch to the online or distant mode of learning for every student. Though it is an exceptional situation in the history of education, the Covid-19 pandemic urged the abandonment of rigorous classroom methods of teaching to a new age digital model. This created many challenges and opportunities for educational institutions to work on their technical knowledge and infrastructure. Most students in India, considering the vast rural population, do not have proper gadgets or access to the internet to be able to attend online classes. The low-income private and government school faced a lot of challenges adapting to the new form of e-learning. The students, in addition to the missed opportunities for learning, no longer have access to healthy meals during this time and are subject to economic and social stress. Placements of students were deeply affected and the unemployment rate in India further increased due to the shutting down of economic and education sectors.
This period of ambiguity, however, served as a form of encouragement for the advancement, innovation, and digitalization of education. A number of e-learning platforms rose to popularity and existence. Learning management in companies quickly soared to the top of the demand ladder. Digital learning has quite a few benefits in itself as it has no physical boundaries and allows students to learn from the comforts of their homes. It has more learning engagement expertise than the traditional form of studying. Additionally, it is tech-savvy and college students get to be taught in a space they are familiar with.
Learning, as they say, is a constant and ever-evolving activity. The educational institutions in India, from faculties to universities, can use this current adversity as a blessing in disguise and make digital training a major facet of the educational course for all learners in the future.
Published in the ET Hospitalityworld on December 30th. https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/speaking-heads/education-and-covid-19-a-challenge-in-uncertainty/80026822
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