Impact of Covid-19 on Education Sector

I. Introduction

On 30 Jan, 2020, the World Health Organization officially announced that this new pandemic corona virus outburst is a public health emergency. WHO named the corona virus as “Covid-19 acute respiratory disease.” This virus has originated from Wuhan city of China and has spread across too many countries causing danger to life of people. It has travelled to from China to Italy to Europe to America and then India. In India first case was found in January, 2020. More than 4, 7,741,062 people are infected and 3,966,877 people have died across the world³. In India more than 309,603 people are infected and more than 8,890 people have died⁴. Maharashtra is the hotspot state of India with 97,648 positive cases, Gujarat with 22032 cases, Delhi with 34687 cases, Rajasthan with 11838, Tamil Nadu with 38176 cases, Madhya Pradesh with 4,273 cases, Uttar Pradesh with 12088 cases, Kerala with 2244 cases, West Bengal with 2,390, Andhra Pradesh with 5429 cases, Chandigarh with 332 cases, Punjab with 2887cases,Uttarakhand with 1638 cases Haryana with 5968 cases, Telangana with 1,476 cases, Jharkhan with 1599 cases, Jammu and Kashmir with 4574 cases, Himachal Pradesh with 470 cases, Karnataka with 6245 cases, Bihar with 5983 cases, Odhisa with 638 cases, Assam with 331 cases, Arunanchal Pradesh with 61 cases, Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 38 cases, Chattisgarh with 1398 cases, Goa with 417 cases⁵.

The pandemic corona has affected education sector completely causing closure of all colleges, schools and universities. By mid of April, 2020 closing of schools has affected nearly 1.8 billion learners severely. As per UNESO monitoring, 191 countries across the world have closed all their schools and universities, 5 countries have closed local schools, 8 countries have still opened their schools.⁶

(CIE) Cambridge International on 23^rd March, 2020 announced the cancellation of Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level, Cambridge, Cambridge Pre U Examinations and AICE Diploma, Cambridge International AS & A Level for the month of May and June, 2020 series nationwide.⁷ International Baccalaureate canceled their all exams.

This closure has not only affected students teachers, faculties and their families but have also affected societal and economical field of India such. The lose due to corona has highlighted some of the economical and societal issues such as digital learning, student debt, homelessness for some people and food insecurity.

The impact of corona is more disadvantageous to teachers and students because it has interrupted their learning. To overcome this problem Schools and Universities have recommended and established learning programs and applications so that teachers and students can meet the education part without any interruption. UNESCO suggested the use of open educational applications and program of distance learning so that teachers and students can interact and schools can reach remote areas also.

Institutions of United States of America have shut down the classes and switched to online classes, cancelled summer breaks. Students studying in South Korea, Italy and China are

requested to return to their homes with precautions and complete their studies at home.⁸

II. Background

Covid- 19 has not only distressed lives of people but also disturbed education of students across the country. It is not only a global health disaster but also education disaster. In India to stop the increase of Covid -19, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced lockdown from 25^th March to 14^th April. But the cases of Covid-19 have not stopped, so the lockdown was announced again till 3^rd May, 2020. Still the condition is same the lockdown is extended after 17^th May, 2020.

Efforts to stop the spread of corona virusthrough protective measures such as self isolation and social distancing have lead to closure of schools and universities across the world. State Government by the second week of March, 2020 started shutting down the schools and universities to stop the transmission. It has been shown that closing of schools and universities may delay the transmission of disease.⁹

March and April is the vital time for education areas such as entrance exam for university admissions, nursery school admissions, board examinations and entrance exam for various competitive exams. The days are going without vaccine to corona virus it was necessary to shut down the schools and universities.

Cities that have been implemented such rules had not reached to peak of mortality rates. But the effectiveness will only be shown when students contact less outside also. If the schools and universities were closed late then there will be more severe conditions and no impact at all in India.

III. Education Levels

A report of World Bank in1974 defines “Formal Education” as the chronologically graded and hierarchically structured “education system” starting from primary school to university level and include general academic studies and various specialized programs for professional and technical training. So, the formal education includes learning provided by schools and universities. The closing has caused negative impact on learning capacity of students. Schools are home of human interaction and social activities. The social contact which is important for personality development is lacking at home.

Schools provide learning necessary for growth and development of students who are building block of our nation. When schools get closedchildren are unable to get opportunities for their development and growth.¹⁰ During closure,Parents at home were asked to ease the learning of children for which they faced problem because of inadequate education resources. Let us study various education levels.

1. Childhood education: The education programs for childhood are made for children’s who are under the age of 3. They prefer nursery schools, preschools, some day care programs and kindergartens. Though several schools (primary and secondary) have been closed across the worldbut measures for childhood educational programs differs. Some countries have not closed preschools and day care facility because they believe that they are necessary for children. The Governor of Maryland declared that child care services shall remain for the children in emergency cases. The Governors of California and Washington State have left it on care providers. The Prime Minister of Japan has shut down all schools except child care facilities.

2. Primary and secondary education: Elementary or primary education includes children’s from 4 to 7 years of age. The Government of every country has shut down the school. Secondary education includes children above 8 years of age. The International Baccalaureate Organization has canceled all the exams which were to be held between 30^th May and 22^nd May, 2020 causing impact on more than 200,000 students across the world. The Organization stated that diplomas or certificate will be awarded to students based on their established assessment practice and their homework.

3. Tertiary education: Higher education is also known as Tertiary Education. It is non-compulsory educational levels followed by completion of high school or secondary school. It includes graduation and post graduation as well as training and vocational education. Students pursuing higher education programs in universities, local colleges, colleges are known as college students. Students who complete this education are awarded with diplomas, academic degrees or certificates. The closure of universities and colleges has affected institutions, administrators, faculty and students.¹¹ Universities and Colleges of United States of America were called to refund the cost of board, room and tuition.

IV. Impact on education worldwide

Students: The impact of corona on students is the short-term termination of classroom activity of Higher Education Institutions. This has left students especially who are on edge of completing high school, undergraduate students who are about to pass and those who have aspired to start tertiary education in complete new situation of having no idea how long the impact of corona will be and the impact that will have on their daily life.

The situation is more typical for the higher education because of their fragile condition. A disturbance of their space by covid-19 and lockdown crisis can aggravate their fragile character and compel them to drop out causing a situation of prohibition from higher education. In America only people between 25 and 29 years who were enrolled failed to complete their studies because they were still studying or abandonment from studies.

Faculty: The corona crisis has not only affected students, faculties are also facing the significant impact on their work. Not all Higher Education Institutions hire teachers for continue teaching process or not all people apply for continue strategy in Institutions so in such case the contract of temporary teacher may be ended. In many countries most of the teachers have part time teaching strategy. The impact on teachers is the expectation that they have to continue teaching using online methods. In most of the Institutions virtual education is present for each subject for physical classroom. The capability of teacher to teach virtually depends on the experience they have.¹²

The subjects which include development of practical competencies through practices such as pedagogical residencies, clinics, career design, science, engineering, laboratory work and practical workshops shows greater uncertainty. Mathematics shows more difficulties during virtual classrooms. Both teachers and students are learning how to tackle with remote communication and learning.

V. Impact on indian education

Coping up with studies during Covid-19

The education sector has been hampered from last two and half months. Before striking lockdown 3^rd in the nation, all the State government with their individual powers have closed all schools, colleges and every teaching institutions for a time from the end of the March. The shutting down of all teaching institution for certain period of time was extended and in the mean whileGovernment announced lockdown for safety of people. During complete lockdown, all the international flights were prohibited from travelling purpose to one country and another, thereby putting restrictions on people from going abroad and attending workshops and seminars internationally. Afterwards all national and domestic flights were also cancelled and thus people were not able to move in their own country thus resulting in not letting attend people national seminars also. Finally due to lockdown trains also got cancelled thus the planned seminars and workshops had been cancelled at all stages. Just because of Corona and lockdown all administrative works, projects and viva for thesis got hampered.

With the coming of pandemic corona the education sector has been degrading. This is an unfamiliar and unprecedented condition where no one actually knows when it will come to an end and when everything will be normal and come back on its track. People need to understand that lifting the lockdown will not set everything right in a minute but slowly this disease will be defeated with imposition of lockdown with various rules and regulations. Maintaining social distance is simple trick to control community spread of this virus and this is a known reality that learning institution is danger for transmission of the virus due to bunch of students gathering in the institutions. Thus, it is not easy to bring students back to educational institutions unless, the infection is totally eradicated from the states.

Distance classes, being one of the options during this pandemic to get connected with students using various online platforms but one cannot say to which this distance classes are successful. The students from urban areas with good family income can have the advantage of online classes but students from semi urban areas or rural areas cannot afford to connect to online classes. Very few students of semi-urban areas have the advantage of online chats and online classes on their smart phones. The situation is very different when we look towards different colleges and universities in semi-urban and rural areas.

VI. Strategies

A strategy is needed to be made for Indian Education System. Some of the strategies are:

1. Measures to ensures continuity of teaching and learning in Private and Government schools and Universities. Learning Management Software and Digital Learning shall be adapted by faculties to continue teaching online. The online platforms such as Zoom Meeting App, Webex Meeting App and Goto Meeting App include online tools and video programs which enables students and teachers to meet online and continue their learning and teaching at home. The Diksha Platform established by Government to reach every states of India should be enhanced.

2. Inclusive Learning Solutions particularly for most marginalized and vulnerable sections of children should be developed. Technology and Internet allow access of education even in the isolated areas of the States. This can enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning and change the schooling system by providing teachers and students opportunities. Many districts have initiated mobile based learning for providing education.

3. For the interruption caused in offline learning many educational platforms are establishing free education materials and tools for students across the world. Organizations such as Coursera and Scholastic have come up with free online courses to motivate students for their studies so that they can continue their learning at home. Websites such as Openculture and UNESCO have file of free online courses¹³.

VII. The future

Although the pandemic corona entered in India in January Month, 2020, the seriousness of the condition was not felt till March. For more than a month education system of India has been in dark. In the meantime the rigorous social changes and economic effects of lockdown have been observed. At present no one knows what will be the economic impact after the end of lockdown. The threat is particularly for families with low income. The students with low income facilities may not be able to continue with their further education because of low income particularly students belonging to informal and unorganized sectors. It may be correct for technical and science education.

There has not been much political change in this lockdown due to pandemic corona. Social changes may arise because people are staying at their everyday, required to spend their time with their families in restricted space.It is observed that domestic violence has increased during this lockdown which severely affected student’s education.

VIII. Role of technology and online education

Many universities, colleges and schools are catering online classes on different platforms, but no one actually knows how fruitful these classes are going to be. Students living in rural areas are not to connect with online classes. Research works are also being hampered. Colleges and universities like Calcutta University having more than 100 undergraduate programs are also not able to conduct online classes for all subjects. So, how can we even conclude that online classes are being fulfilled? Students of primary sections are able to understand what is being taught. Thus, we can say that online classes is not much fruitful as students of primary section are not able to understand it and students of rural areas cannot have access to it because of poor network connection or due to lack of smart phones or computer. Thus, we can say that this pandemic has put an adverse effect on education system. Every sector has been affected by this pandemic, economy has been down in these days but much affected are the students as they have the pressure to attend online classes, give online assignments and thus have to manage their time well.

The shift to online teaching is making sure that no students should suffer loss of studies and with evaluation their improvement is tracked by the Government. India for the first time is experiencing such education system which has shift to online world, joining classrooms lectures with online teaching. Merging education with technology and formulating a strategy to provide online lectures will help students to learn effectively and efficiently. Innovative Technologies are boosting syllabus with which students can learn by their choice and not by their presence in the classrooms. Moreover, Universities are providing (AI) Artificial Intelligence enabled learning by offering several courses by associating with collaboration. Also the Universities are teaching more than the syllabus. Faculties have to handle the condition carefully. Emotion help with online support are enhancing the education system.

This provides Nation a vision of tomorrow education reform. For example, medical aspirants can go to interactive session for discussion of particular case studies, online moot sessions can be conducted for law students; engineering students can have deep study of city planning and environmental engineering. Online education is getting attractiveness and popularity nationwide as it is nourishing many students with education rather than developing any circumstances.

Apart from online teaching there is also focus on virtual internships which enables students to go beyond their studies or curriculum and learn and practice for their professions. Virtual Internships are the values added to education field with which students can understand the need of current scenario and automate during this pandemic. This will enable them to virtualizes their profession in the future and prepare them for any harsh conditions. This will develop more confidence in the students instead of panic or chaos.

Though the country is adapting to new technology of learning but there is an obstacle in making online teaching successful. There are only 45 crore of total population of the nation who have access to technology and internet and hence to online teaching. The people living in rural areas are unaware of the newest advancements in technologies and thus disturbing the online teaching. An online class does not only depend on e-lectures but it also requires one to have access to internet so that he or she can get online study material, practice sheets and e-content. This makes India unequipped with measures to enable education to reach every student with the help of online teaching. The students who don’t have access will lack behind¹⁴. Other then social problems of technologies there are some other problems also.

Technology played much important role in teachings during corona period. As we all know that digital device played an important role in reaching all the students but classroom teaching is considered best. Laboratory based projects require classroom teaching because practical cannot be held online and it is not easy to set up laboratory at homes because of some harmful chemicals. While theory based subjects like humanities, arts and law can be held online but still it may not reach to every student. Subjects like economics include both science and humanities and they require practical and theory work. The practical work (computer based) is not easy to perform online because every student may not have computers. For mathematics subject it is not easy to provide instruction and solutions online. Online classes cannot substitute Classroom teaching as it cannot create the interaction. The body language of teachers which is important for lectures is absent in online teaching.

IX. Conclusion

It is known to everyone that all the Governments of every Country have shut down all the schools and universities because of pandemic corona virus across the nation. Considering the present situation there is no surety of when universities, colleges and schools will reopen. This is for the first when India is facing such pandemic situation. The cases of corona rate of increasing cases have not stopped yet. There is no do doubt that education sector is severely affected because of this virus but precautions to stop the transmission of virus and save people especially our youth is also necessary. The immediate solution was to shut the schools. Students are facing problems. Though the schools are closed but the reach of education to students has not stopped. Several online methods of teaching and learning are adopted by Government and teachers. Teachers are taking initiatives to make content for understanding of the students. Several online courses are also organized through online portals. Several materials are available online. This shows that education is ongoing process which should never stop. Since lockdown has ended and everything has opened but still there is question mark on the opening of schools and colleges because schools are colleges are places where social distancing cannot be maintained. Students will come closer and students studying far from home have to go. So, it is good if schools are shut down.

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