Effects of Covid Pandemic
on the Students
Covid pandemic has widespread
effects on every sphere of life and students are not spared.
They are affected
physically, mentally and emotionally.
For a long period, they are unable to
meet with their mentors and class fellows. They can’t go outside. They can’t
meet with their friends and relatives. They are lonely. This is hampering there
growth.
Why Can’t
we open the schools?
Kids are not Mature
enough to follow covid appropriate behaviour
(CAB).
It is very difficult for them to maintain the social distancing in the classroom. In a class of 40
to 50 students it is just not possible.
Kids are not expected to communicate
with masks on their faces.
Moreover a student has low immunity as compared to
adults.
If there is any spread of corona
in the schools, it will be very difficult to control. Schools can be hub of Corona.
Schools can be main corona spreader if they are opened without preparation.
Problems
if schools remain closed for long time.
Schools are integral part of a student life. A major part of
his day is spent in the school. If schools remain closed for long then it will
have very negative effect on the students.
This will affect not just their
studies but also their personalities. Students are facing very difficult time.
Limitations of online classes
There are no offline classes as schools and coaching centers
are closed. So students are deprived of valuable suggestions and guidance of
their teachers.
Although many schools are providing online classes but they
cannot compensate for the offline classes where the student has direct
interaction with a teacher. He can put his doubts and ask questions directly.
In online classes there is one more problem which is faced by most of the
students in India that is the poor quality of Internet. Many times classes got
disconnected and sometimes picture and voice quality is compromising .
Moreover
there is no eye to eye contact between teacher and his students. So teacher is
unable to judge if students are getting whatever he is delivering. It is almost
impossible to create conducive teaching learning experience in an online class.
No
examination for one year
In April 2020 first wave of corona pandemic started and in
the beginning of 2021 its second wave spread all over the India. Therefore
schools and other educational institutions remain closed for more than one year.
During this time there was no pen paper examination of the students. It is
almost impossible for a teacher to find out if a student is understanding
everything that is taught in the online classes without examinations.
Exams are
not only the test of understanding of the students but it also provides basis
for the remedial classes. A teacher after studying the result of the class
decides which topics need to be revised in the class.
He also comes to know the
types of mistakes the students are committing. It gives her an insight about
the level of understanding of the syllabus.
In the absence of any examination
the whole learning process is deteriorating. It will be very difficult to fill
this gap in the future.
In remote
and backward areas
In the backward areas of the country where economic status
of the people is already low the position of education is even more disadvantageous
.
The students of these areas belong to the poor families and most of them
study in the government run schools. It is not possible for them to manage
costly smart phones or computers for taking online classes.
Most of the
students do not have good Internet connection . Even in many areas there is
irregular supply of electricity.
In such a scenario it is just not possible to
acquire education by online mode.
For these students this year is almost a zero
year. Although most of the state boards and CBSE have promoted the students to
the next class but we know it very well that they do not acquire proper
knowledge in the previous class . This will definitely affect their study in
the next class also.
Mental And emotional stress on the students
During the Corona time many families suffered directly and
indirectly. Some families lost their jobs and there is decline in income of self dependent
families.
In some families members are affected by the Corona . Some of them were
hospitalized. There was a scarcity of medicines, oxygen cylinders and even beds
in the hospitals. This causes additional tension in the families. Children also
face this stress.
These circumstances leads to an environment where learning activities
cannot go on. We cannot expect a student to carry his studies if family is
passing through such a challenging time. This creates a great mental and
emotional stress on the family members especially the children
Uncertain
future
Students who are in the higher most class of their institutions
are facing one more problem. After completing the education in their Institute
they need to be transferred to the next higher Institute. In this pandemic
situation it is very difficult for them to get admission.
Moreover students who
are planning for some professional courses after completing the school are also
in dilemma. Their future is very uncertain. There is a great loss of their
valuable time. At this time they should focus on the preparation for the
competitive examinations but they are fighting with the disease and family
problems.
3rd
wave of corona
Doctors and other experts are claiming that danger is not
over yet. There will be a 3rd wave of Corona that will affect the
children the most. This is creating a
panic among the parents.
When a hope was in sight that school will open after
this short lockdown and decline in Corona cases, at this time this declaration
of 3rd way of Corona is not a good sign.
We need a widespread
preparation to tackle this coming danger. Government should improve facilities
in the hospitals and other health care centers. Necessary supplies of medicines
and other equipments should be maintained in advance.
On the other hand people
should understand their responsibilities. They should maintain social distancing.
One should not stop wearing masks even after vaccination.
Ray of
hope
Even in this distress one should not lose hope. We should
also see the positive side.
Our country is one of the few nations in the world
which has developed vaccine for Corona. Vaccination drive is moving very fast
and we should expect that majority of our population will be vaccinated in a
few months only.
There is research going on to develop vaccine for children. I
am confident that it will be available very soon. We should observe Corona
appropriate behavior until at least 70% of our population including children is
vaccinated.
We will definitely win over this deadly virus.
