Covid-19 Lockdown and Online Education System

Source: UNICEF

“There is no electricity for days even in my area, and I have spent over 70 thousand just to get a stable wifi connection so I can attend my classes…”, said a Layyah resident, who is getting his bachelor’s degree from a reputable educational institute in Lahore but had to go back due to the pandemic.

Why is online education system failing so miserably in Pakistan? Two obvious reasons stare at us. First, the generally uninspiring online lectures delivered by teachers. Second, most students and many teachers have insufficient mastery over English to usefully engage with internet learning materials. But another reason which is often overlooked by the authorities is the lack of proper resources. Whereas it has become difficult for students to keep themselves motivated for learning, however, it is not the case for all students as many still want to learn and perform better in class but are hindered due to lack of adequate resources.

Last year was different and very challenging for all of us; from politicians, business owners to labor class, all were challenged in economic perspective. However, students were another segment which was influenced by its outcomes harshly. Covid-19 hit the world and almost every state went into lockdown; bringing its whole educational system online and youth’s future relying on their resources and their self-motivational factors. Children belonging to metropolitan areas and with adequate resources were concerned about the quality of their digital lectures, whereas the story was entirely different for others belonging to marginalized regions.

“However, WhatsApp can work at low charges as it requires low MBs, but our teachers take class on zoom and moreover, due to the electricity issue it also become very difficult for us. So I have now simply given up. My friends inform me whenever we get any marked assignment and I prepare it according to my limited knowledge and with available resources and I am not sure how long it will keep on going like that.” another student commented.

Where some found it entirely baseless with no significant benefit, few considered it as modern alternate to such problems and even best use of latest technology for self-learning purposes, as compared to wasting time on social sites, “honestly speaking, it was a good experience. This is need of the hour to introduce LMS (Learning Management System) in our traditional educational system, especially in higher education institutions, just like many other countries have done. I think online education system should not only be implemented during lockdown or current pandemic, but we should work on merging the both systems for improved and new version of our system.”, a student belonging to middle class background expressed his views. Although, his perspective is appreciable and can be seen as a pro-active approach to combat challenges and get the best out of every situation, but this is certainly not practical for students belonging to different backgrounds because they live entirely distinct realities. Therefore, it may not be suitable for majority part of students, if viewed rationally.

A professor at private institute elaborating the similar perspective said, “for a student who is really eager to learn, it doesn’t matter (to him) through whatever medium he quenches his thirst. No method is good or bad for him, he just gets the best out of everything. I think these online classes made students as well as teachers familiar with technology and provided them with more opportunities to learn and explore. I am not saying our (online education) system is perfect, of course there are many flaws, relative to every institute and student’s circumstances, but all I am saying is we should not completely abandon it once things get back to normal. We should work on its shortcomings and improve it for more productive outcomes.”

Now the third wave is upon us with the chances of institutes switching to online platforms once again, and unlike the first time, students have stopped taking it serious anymore and many wants to go back to the 'normal' routine. Meanwhile, coronavirus has evidently changed the world order, and our realities. Many fell victim to financial crisis, multiple developed depression and anxiety amid lockdown but thousands of students enjoyed their ‘holidays’ with little or no effort put into their online lectures. There is also another complain which is often observed among students that teachers have also become irresponsible. These all factors in combination with a significant proportion of students without proper access to those improper lectures brings quite worrisome questions into limelight. In the post covid world, where skills will be prioritized over anything and knowledge will be preferred over hollow CGPAs, are we preparing our youth for the future which we are creating for them, and making them capable enough to fulfill all the demands of that world? I believe we are not. There is a huge lag of knowledge span and acquired skills in students when compare to the market requirements, all which will unfortunately only widen the existing grave unemployment issue.