Watching interests of the students on the fringe

Sanjeev Rai

The Corona pandemic has a disruptive intervention in our life and education. From UGC-MHRD to State governments, universities and private schools all jumped quickly to adapt to new modes of learning and discussion. A range of learning platforms and apps are being tried out by the government and non-government agencies. Not only is a new model of teaching being promoted, but online assessments and exams have also become a part of the new discourse. Most academic institutes are concerned about the completion of the syllabus to move on with the academic session, while some are utilising the lockdown for  pursuit of knowledge. 

 A large number of academic community members are occupied with the scheduled webinars, discussing challenges before the teachers, fear of changing campus culture, and other social dimensions of learning. At the same time, a substantial number of students are returning to their native villages. Some students are facing the heat of the economic crisis as parents lose the job.

 This is not a conventional academic session. The world has not been challenged only by the health crises but a major economic and educational emergency as well. Countries are at risk of losing the educational gains from the past 50 years. The sustainable development goals, set by the United Nations would also be required to modify. It seems that achievements like increased enrolment from school to university, promotion of girls’ education, the inclusion of children with special needs, strategies of social inclusion and upward educational mobility would be overturned in the coming months!

 The emerging educational scenario is much more complex. This complexity consists of a range of challenges, from the digital divide to reduced seats in schools. Famous CNN journalist, Farid Zakariya has reminded us of the “class divide” during this pandemic.

This phenomenon can’t be understood with a single lens such as economic or a gender perspective. Some new tools would be needed to explain, modern ways of discrimination. Corona infection does not spare anyone on the name of religion or caste or regionality.  Globally, It has reached all class, caste, nation, and religion. But in society, discrimination is evident. In a few villages of Uttar Pradesh, shopkeepers hang back to deliver essential commodities to the family members of an infected person. Reflections of these mindsets would reach educational institutions also. Do we have any plan to deal with this mindset?

  Most of us are confined to our homes. Have we seen a school or college student of an urban slum share what he or she requires from school/university authorities at this time of uncertainty? We have not seen a daily wage worker or a small vendor with their school-going children, participating in a prime-time debate on lockdown. Of course, the cases of infections might have slowed down, but the economic impediments have created larger constrains in every sector, including education.

 

CMIE’s data reveals that 12.2 crore people lost their jobs in the month of April, 2020. ILO estimates that Covid-19 may push, 40 crore Indians to poverty. Are these mere statistics? This number has put the uncertainty before the families and crushed a learning dream of millions.  It would be ironic if the plight of our students doesn’t find a place in the discourse and action on an urgent basis.

 Empathy must reflect in the action. The students, expect a larger role to be played by the teaching community.

Time has come to demonstrate kindness and compassion towards our students.  Teachers can’t do it alone as current challenges demand wider participation. Government officials should also realise that they have their limitations while addressing complex educational issues. New circumstances have provided an opportunity to think out of the box.

New educational challenges require new solutions.  Selective perspectives may not take us too far in the current context. The officials should be welcoming to accept new ideas and collective actions.

  Every unit of education and every individual involved in the learning process is an asset. Pre-school instructors, Anganwadi works, school teachers, field practitioners, NGO workers, academicians, policymakers, and others must come together to find solutions to the current educational challenges. The severity of the issue demands a holistic approach and action. Individually, we all are engaged with the discourse on growing education inequalities. Collectively, we should find a smarter solution for all, realising one of the prime objectives of education.

 — The writer is Adjunct Professor-Education, TISS-Mumbai