The novel coronavirus pandemic has triggered various challenges in all the sectors of human lives. The contagious disease has brought to a standstill various human activities, from business to education.
Schools have been shut down, all kinds of exams have been cancelled, whether academic or any other competitive exam.
During this pandemic, technology has provided a lifeline for many industries including the education sector. The World Economic Forum reports a surge in the use of language apps, virtual tutoring and video conferencing tools.
So, on the positive side, new potentials are emerging which can be helpful in enhancing the teaching-learning experience.
But, in a young country like India, where the population growth is very high and a majority of its population is still below the poverty line, digital learning can never be sustainable. Covid-19 has just revealed the stark digital divide that threatens to disrupt the lives of many poor students.
At one time, it was believed that education would be a powerful tool to bridge the divide between the poor and the rich. With this motive the Right to Education Act was introduced which provides free and compulsory education to students of the age group 6 to 14.
But with schools being turned into virtual classrooms, it seems that the motive of the right is under a veil of uncertainty. This is because many parents are poor and can’t afford to accommodate their children with the required digital setup.
On the other hand, the digital ecosystem in India is yet to develop to proliferate in every nook and corner of the country.
The problem of digital accessibility has snowballed into many other major issues; like depression among the students who cannot afford digital learning. This is evident from the fact that many suicide cases are reported among students. Such incidents are often reported in states like Assam and Kerala.
Although Covid-19 has provided an avenue to revamp the age old education system, the government must most importantly focus on bringing “digital” right to education, so that no student is left apart in having his education. If this issue is not addressed in time the divide between the rich and the poor will only increase.