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Learning in Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected educational systems worldwide, leading to the near-total closures of schools, universities and colleges. Most governments around the world have temporarily closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. Almost 1.725 billion learners are currently affected due to school closures in response to the pandemic.

During the second week of March, Indian state governments began shutting down schools and colleges temporarily as a measure to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. It’s close to almost six months and there is no certainty when they will reopen.

The structure of schooling and learning, including teaching and assessment methodologies, was the first to be affected by these closures. Only a handful of private schools could adopt online teaching methods. Their low-income private and government school counterparts, on the other hand, have completely shut down for not having access to e-learning solutions.

The students of Zilla Parishad Schools suffered the most. Most of the students are unable to access the online teaching methods adopted by the schools. The students either don’t have internet connections or some of them do not have mobile phones. The students who could not afford buying new mobile phones or internet connections are affected the most. But they have overcome this hurdle very successfully. Let's see how.    

 Interviewer - How has COVID-19 affected the education of ZP students?

Interviewee - This pandemic has affected the students differently like for the students of urban areas it is easy for them to start the online education and adopt the e-learning methods but the students from rural area are the suffering ones. The students are mostly of the working-class poor families. But some of the measures taken by government and some of our ideas are helping students to learn even in the lockdown.

Interviewer - Did the government take any action regarding this?

Interviewee - The government started a program named “Tilimili” on DD Sahyandri. Students of class 1st – 8th were taught through this medium. “Shala band shikshan suru” a radio program on akashvani on Tuesdays and Fridays. Government also launched the “Diksha” App. Parents have enthusiastically downloaded the app and teach their children through this app. This app provides the detailed syllabus of each class and is very easy to access. 

Interviewer - What teaching methods are used by the teachers?

Interviewee - We have a responsible role to play. We teach the children of age 6-14 online. WhatsApp groups of parents are made so that we can share the videos we make on the groups. Twice a week the teacher who has the class goes to the home of the student of that class and checks weather he/she has done the homework given through WhatsApp and tries to solve any queries the student has.

Interviewer - Did the school provide any study material to the students? And how?

Interviewee - Yes, under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan the government provides us the necessary book which are further given to the students. On the very first day of school i.e. 26th June, we have given books to the students and made sure that every student has received the books.

This shows that even the rural areas are getting digital slower rather than later. 

 

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