The coronavirus pandemic has put the world, including all educational institutions, on pause. In India, the nationwide lockdown hits the educational sector also.
But the last few days have finally seen a flurry of activities by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development(MHRD), various universities, and various regulators including the Central Board Of Secondary Education (CBSE), National Council Of Educational Research And Training (NCERT), etc. to find alternatives to ensure the Continuation of education.
However, amongst this whole discourse of moving education online, there has hardly been any discussion surrounding the practical issues of implementation as well as various socioeconomic factors that define the Indian education ecosystem.
Is Everyone Able To Study Online?
According to the report, all Indian households having internet facilities stands at 600 million(51.71% )with rural at 290 million and urban at 337 million.
The problem does not end there, as having a facility does not mean it would be used. Poor families can’t afford smartphones for online classes. Misuse of Data for objectives other than learning is also a factor.
Loss Of Nutrients Due To School Closure
The closure of schools has serious implications on the daily nutrition of students as the mid-day meal schemes have temporarily been shut.
As of March 31, 2019, close to 12 crore students across the country were provided with food under the mid-day meal scheme. Various studies have pointed out that mid-day meals are an important contributing factor for increased enrollment in the schools.
According to CMIEs data, 11.9 crore people have lost employment in the Covid-19 lockdown. Investment in education is not going to be a priority amongst disadvantaged households and might see a fall in enrollment when schools will be opened.
These factors highlight a very dangerous scenario for the primary education sector in our country. The loss of possibly half a year. If not the full academic year of 2020-21 is going to further deteriorate the situation, as students would have difficulty in resuming schooling again.