The world is facing endless problems because of the Covid-19. No one knows when the pandemic will completely disappear. Owing to the coronavirus, direct teaching in educational institutions has been stopped in the country for about 14 months. Research activities at higher education institutions have come to a halt. Online and distance learning methods are being used to continue the educational activities of millions of students. Some schools and colleges are internally organising exams online. But the purpose of educational activities is not being fulfilled completely. The opening date of educational institutions is getting delayed time and again. Overall, education of about 4 crore students has been disrupted so badly whose effects will be long-term and far-reaching.
In this situation, it is necessary to take a well-thought-out plan to restore overall education. In order to overcome the losses in this sector, we need to adopt appropriate plans based on the examples of different countries and our experience. Recently, it was decided to open the educational institutions. But right at that time, lockdown had been imposed again because of surging Covid-19 cases. Now the holidays for educational institutions have been extended till 22 May. Although online and distance learning methods have been introduced at different levels of education, it is not reaching all students due to infrastructural limitations.
Although there are various initiatives to bring students from all over the country to education through assignments by school teachers, a significant number of students are staying away from distance learning activities. Owing to the pandemic, many students may never return to schools. In addition, many others may have to go to work with their parents, thanks to growing poverty in the country. In fact, there is a risk that coronavirus will have various effects on education, students and society. Dropout of students, child labour, child marriage and an increase in infant and maternal mortality rates are a few of those effects. If effective steps are not taken in time to prevent all these problems, many of our achievements may be tarnished.
At present, it seems it will take some more time for the pandemic to come under control. Against this backdrop, all students need to be brought under the supervision of teachers, and the learning activities should be continued by giving regular assignments, At the same time, necessary steps must be taken to keep them mentally healthy.
Considering the reality, we must impart education in an approach that encourages the principle of student safety. The extent to which SSC and HSC candidates have suffered is widely discussed. Appropriate steps must be taken so that they can overcome this loss. Another sector that has been suffering a major loss owing to the pandemic is higher education. A large number of students studying in the last phase at various universities are waiting to enter their careers but they are stuck due to the pandemic. Hundreds of exams have also been postponed in national university colleges. Besides, research activities are closed in almost all the universities.
Among the initiatives that will be taken to compensate the country’s education sector due to the epidemic, it is also important to follow the proper hygiene rules as experts advise.
