How COVID-19 changed India's Education System

"Once bound by traditional roots, India's education system blossomed into a phoenix after the COVID-19 storm, soaring from the ashes of the pre-pandemic norm."

Public schools, which were once bustling with kids, had become ghost towns, with all extracurricular activities suspended. Ah! What a distressing COVID-19 experience we and the educational system had!

It is well said that “The world will never be the same again after the Pandemic”

The Indian education system danced to the rhythm of traditional classrooms, bustling corridors, and the familiar hum of school bells. Students eagerly embraced the daily ritual of packing their backpacks with books and notebooks, embarking on an adventure of learning and laughter.

In India, as the government lifted lockdown restrictions, schools across the country hurried to make up for lost time. The decades-old one-size-fits-all approach to school instruction has undergone enormous transformation and is projected to continue for many years.

 

The Prelude: Education Before the Storm

Once upon a time, in the pre-pandemic era, education in India resembled a well-rehearsed play. Students hustled through bustling hallways, teachers wielded chalk on blackboards, and parents eagerly attended PTA meetings. This was the norm in the urban landscapes of concrete dreams and the rural hinterlands, where the echo of the school bell was as familiar as the chirping of crickets at dusk. 

The school's job was to place pupils in their appropriate classrooms, and teachers performed their common acts. There was a daily programme for meeting and learning from books and other sources. The majority of a child's behaviours are learned at educational institutions and at home. Schools play an important role in providing health care, nutrition, and psychological support.

 When we encountered the coronavirus pandemic, the global education system faced a problem we had never expected or considered.

 

The Pandemic Unleashes Its Outrage: A Thunderous Turn of Events

Cue the unexpected twist – the pandemic arrived, turning the scripted routine into a chaotic improvisation. Suddenly, school corridors were replaced by virtual spaces, and the hallowed blackboard became a digital canvas. Urban students, once captivated by the buzz of city life, now found themselves confined within pixelated screens. Rural pupils, who trekked miles to reach school, faced a new journey – a digital one.

The education landscape transformed overnight, leaving students, teachers, and parents stranded in uncharted waters. Zoom became the new classroom, and textbooks gathered dust while screens illuminated the faces of eager learners.

It took numerous nights, days of work, and meetings to find a solution. Teachers and professors in nations with large generation gaps and low technological advancements developed a goal to offer information within the boundaries set by authorities. Parents, teachers, and children experienced a number of issues. Technology was merely a support to teaching before this pandemic, but it now plays a central role in delivering and accessing knowledge.

However, there has been a new wave of exploration of the possibilities of the online learning platform. The new wave comprised a variety of professional development programmes for teachers, parents, students, educators, school administrators, policymakers, and others to help them continue their educational activities during the pandemic. These programmes were delivered online using Google Meet, Zoom, and other meeting platforms.

 

Challenges in Urban areas

In the urban narrative, the shift to online learning brought challenges akin to mastering a new language. The Wi-Fi connection transformed into an unpredictable ally, with students often left staring at loading screens instead of algebraic equations. The struggle was real – urban classrooms migrated to living rooms, and the commute shortened to a few clicks.

 

Challenges for Rural areas

Meanwhile, in the rural tapestry, a different struggle unfolded. The digital divide manifested as a vast chasm, separating those with access to technology from those without. Students in remote villages grappled with limited internet connectivity and a scarcity of devices. The dichotomy was stark – urban dwellers zoomed through lessons while their rural counterparts navigated the slow lanes of digital education.

 

Post Pandemic Era

But every story must have a resolution. As the pandemic receded, a new chapter unfolded – the post-pandemic era. Education has evolved, not merely bouncing back but leaping forward. Urban students returned to school, their backpacks heavier with the lessons of resilience and adaptability. The digital divide in rural areas began to narrow as initiatives bridged the gaps in access and connectivity. Education, once confined to brick and mortar, now embraced a hybrid model, blending the best of virtual and physical realms. 

In the post-pandemic landscape, education in India wore a new cape. Urban classrooms retained the tech-savvy charm acquired during the pandemic, while rural schools blended tradition with technology. The blackboard found its place alongside digital screens, creating a harmonious symphony of old and new.

 

The Student Odyssey: Navigating Stormy Seas of Screens

For students, the transition wasn't all smooth sailing. The screen, once a portal to entertainment, morphed into the gateway to education. Challenges emerged as students grappled with digital fatigue, the absence of physical interactions, and the daunting task of self-discipline. The familiar fellowship of friends was replaced by the silence of virtual breakout rooms, and the once-thriving school life became a distant memory.

Students, whether in the city or the village, yearned for the personal touch of a classroom, the bond of classmates, and the watchful eye of a teacher. Parents became unwitting IT support, grappling with tech glitches and password amnesia. The once familiar world of education transformed into a digital labyrinth, and everyone was trying to find the exit.

 

The Teacher's Dilemma: Crafting Lessons in a Virtual Wonderland

As the pandemic persisted, teachers metamorphosed into digital wizards, mastering the art of online engagement. Urban educators juggled screens, turning virtual classrooms into dynamic stages where knowledge was the star. In rural landscapes, teachers became resourceful alchemists, concocting lessons that transcended the digital barrier. WhatsApp became the new blackboard, and audio notes the currency of learning.

Concerns include teaching and learning for children without access to digital devices, continuing learning for disabled children, balancing physical and mental health, teachers' reach, access to engaging learning materials and learning in a socially distant environment.

1. Difficult to reach learners in remote areas.

2. Difficult to motivate learners.

3. Challenges to keep track of learners' progress.

4. Problem of electricity and Internet connectivity.

5. Lack of technical /Software knowledge.

6. More time is required to prepare course content.

7. Lack of motivation and encouragement for online learners.

8. More difficult to teach numerical subjects through online mode.

9. Difficult to monitor class discipline

 

The Parental Role: From Spectators to Co-Stars in the Educational Drama

As the curtains rose on this educational drama, parents found themselves thrust into starring roles. Homes became makeshift classrooms, and parents, once observers, became active participants in the educational journey. The challenge lay balancing work, household chores, and becoming amateur tutors overnight.

 

How the pandemic has reshaped education

The coronavirus pandemic altered education. It did more than simply shift classrooms to online schooling. It puts basic assumptions about instruction, testing, attendance, money, the role of technology, and the human relationships that hold the education system together to the test. 

The Covid-19 shut down schools all over the world. Over 1.9 billion students worldwide have moved away from traditional classroom settings towards e-learning. 

In India, Big Stars like Byjus and Vedantu saw a bloom in their registrations due to their online education facilities. A great number of tutors were also hired during this period, and they played their roles really well during the Pandemic. 

As a result, education has altered tremendously with the sudden emergence of e-learning, in which instruction is done remotely and via digital platforms. 

The children's social lives have been entirely shut down, and the rapid transition to E-learning has a wide-ranging impact on their lives. Online classes strain their eyes and cause mental fatigue. However, the turbulence caused by the coronavirus epidemic has formative potential. 

NEP (National Education Policy) made prominent changes after the pandemic for schools and higher education. 

 

Government support in terms of teaching aid?

The Ministry of Education has implemented actions to help states and schools deal with the pandemic. The initiatives include guidelines for teaching, learning, educational planning, and governance; online and offline resources for students and teachers; online modules for teacher training; improved Samagra Shiksha and Mid-Day meal schemes, initiatives for disabled children, and mental health and well-being of children. In response to the pandemic, states/UTs have implemented steps to support children's learning and prevent disruptions. 

• The Ministry of Education has launched a new online system to capture the Out of out-of-school children (missing children) on the PRABANDH portal of the Department.
• As part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Programme, a comprehensive initiative for using Technology with Equity, PM e-VIDYA, has been initiated. This initiative unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education. 
• In the Ministry of Education, 34 channels are devoted to broadcasting high-quality educational Programmes. Of these, 12 TV channels are earmarked for one class, and one TV channel is under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Programme for the Department of School Education and Literacy. 
• Online MOOC courses relating to NIOS (grades 9 to 12 of open schooling) are uploaded on the SWAYAM portal. Students and teachers can access all the course modules - text, videos, assessment questions etc.
• Activity-based and highly engaging modules focusing upon experiential learning and competency-based education prepared by CBSE and uploaded on DIKSHA. 
• CIET-NCERT organised a series of webinars starting from 07 April 2020 for the enrichment and professional development of students, teachers, teacher educators and researchers. 
• MANODARPAN’s initiative is included in the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. It covered a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers, and families for Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being during the COVID outbreak and beyond. 
• ‘NCERT Counselling Services for School Children’ was started in April 2020 on phone/email through its trained counsellors. This service is free of charge by about 270 counsellors across different regions of the country.
• The Central Government decided to provide a Mid-Day Meal to meet the nutritional requirements of the eligible children under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to safeguard their immunity.

 

Mental Health Issues Among Students During Pandemic

It is essential to focus on students' mental health today. According to a study published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, more than 53% of Indian university students experience moderate to severe depression. 

The Covid-19 epidemic and lockdown have not been kind to our student population. They were among the hardest hit emotionally: 58% of Indian college students reported a considerable increase in stress and a serious deterioration in their emotions of anger, anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness, and happiness.

 

Conclusion

The educational odyssey in India, from the pre-pandemic golden era to the stormy seas of the pandemic, has been a transformative journey. Students, teachers, and parents have weathered the tempest together, emerging wiser, stronger, and more resilient. As the story continues, the promise of a brighter, more inclusive educational future beckons, with lessons learned and bridges built across the turbulent waters of change. The adventure of education in India continues, with each chapter unfolding new possibilities, challenges, and triumphs.

However, from a worldwide perspective, it has once again demonstrated that overall access to and experience with online classes during lockdowns due to pandemics or other emergencies should be enhanced to offer fair educational opportunities for all.

So how much are we ready for the future if again physical presence is enabled ??
 

FAQs

1. Did the COVID pandemic really hampered the education system in India?

The education of around 360 million students was hampered in India alone! Corona-induced severe disruption the world over shut an unprecedented 1.4 billion students out of their pre-primary, primary and secondary schools in more than 190 countries. Schools were closed and children were confined to their houses.

 

2. What are the challenges of offline learning?

However, offline learning can also have some challenges, such as cost, time, and location constraints, lack of diversity and personalisation, and difficulty in accessing and updating content.

 

3. How does lockdown affect students?

The pandemic has also directly impacted the educational performance of many students. They were struggling with burnout, i.e., a feeling of extreme fatigue and laziness that led to a decline in academic performance.

 

4. Did the government helped educators during the pandemic?

Yes, the government provided Education Aid to all educators.