Corona is a fast spreading and quite contagious virus which can spread between people even before symptoms appear. Since it was first detected in India in January 2020, the government has been making containment zones and placing lockdowns across the country to contain the spread of the virus. This has led to the closing of Educational Institutions not only across India but across the entire globe. The motive behind the closures is to limit interactions between people and avoid gathering at public places like schools, colleges and coaching institutes. Learning, thus, is being shifted to online platforms as many schools and colleges are conducting their classes online. This includes the use of several online tools and video programs that let students and teachers to meet and conduct classes over the internet. Another way is distance education which includes the sharing of educational material over the internet which students can download and study on their own. There are many online platforms that offer free courses to students to continue their education normally at home. Distance education works fine for students above a certain age, but parents are sure having a hard time dealing with children who would normally be at school during the day before the schools shut down. Kids need to be helped even with the navigation of the computer during their online class. People with kindergarten kids can’t even do their daily chores without some other arrangements for them.
Admissions as well as tests at schools are being delayed amidst the pandemic. Extension in the duration of the school year is another thing that is getting very common. Further, as schools are beginning to convert their courses to match the online platform, students and teachers are both struggling to get a hang of the new online methodologies. Still it is the lower middle class families that are suffering as they not able to continue with the online classes in the absence of computers or the internet. Unless they have access to proper technology, many students will continue to miss out on their education until proper arrangements can be made. Students sometimes find it difficult to concentrate with online learning tools and smaller children might need the help of their parents. This simply indicates to the fact that the present arrangements are just as good as they appear but long term dependence upon them would demand some serious changes to be incorporated in the system as a whole.
With the generation of uncertainty in the exam cycle of universities, the countrywide lockdown has slowed down the process of internships and placements as well. Reduction in placements is also as a result of overall recession in the country. This recession has obscured the future of many students pursuing their studies because without jobs education serves no specific purpose. The country’s economic future is vague and so is the future of its upcoming generation. There is need for effective measures to be taken to alleviate the effects of the pandemic induced crisis upon education as well as employment opportunities. The future of a country depends on the future of its young minds and the need of the hour is to provide a suitable environment to our children in lieu of this pandemic so they can stay enthusiastic and stable enough to create a bright future once the ongoing crisis is finally over. Technology can play its part in doing the job for us and it still is in some way or the other. But ensuring the efficient use of technology and protecting our kids from the hazards of internet misuse is solely our responsibility. Times may be hard but the good thing about time is that, it always passes. Hope is our Anchor!