AAYUSH PANWAR | The Corona has not only impacted the medical system of the country but also the shown the defects of the education system in India. According to the reports of UNESCO around 1,57,66,15,423 school students have been affected in the world which represents around 91% of the total enrolled students. In India 32,07,13,810 students have been impacted due to this vital disease. It is the time ponder on a issue which will decide the future of the country.
The only option available at this time is to shift on to the digital resources like online lectures using various platforms. But this comes with its own disadvantages and challenges. The first and the foremost challenge that it posses is for the teachers. The teachers have to be efficient in using these technological developments but for the country like India it seems next to impossible. The use of the technology among the school teachers is not to that level which is present in other developed and developing countries. Further the network connectivity and infrastructure in the country is not so good and equally efficient that in a one go, the whole classroom is transformed into a digital room. Another danger that it possesses is that it may drive the country into a great digital divide which may take a new form of internal conflicts and another stroke in hampering the unity of the country. The students who have a good approach to the technology and the network connectivity will show superiority and the ones with lower economic class will feel sidelined with this step. The whole student fraternity will be divided into groups on the basis of the technological reach and advances.
The whole academic year of the student now seems to be destroyed. Various international competitions have been cancelled and all those who prepared for such thing for almost a year have gone in vain. All those in final year of the course waiting for the placements will now struggle to find a job. New buds seeking admission in the colleges will struck in the admission process. Another problem that might occur in the rural areas will be of nutrition as many students go to the school because of the mid-day meal scheme for food.
This is the time to think over these challenges. The government should now ponder upon the various alternatives and option that are available and feasible in such a situation. The best alternative that could be available is that of radio and the regional television channels. The coverage of the radio can be said to be one of the largest among other telecommunication technologies even the internet. Though it cannot take place of the conventional classes but can be the best alternative. It is the time for government to discover and design the steps so that education is delivered at all the doorsteps.
Aayush Panwar is an undergraduate student of Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. He can be reached at aayushpanwar1209@gmail.com
Photo Source: Times of India
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