Classes have started in some schools and universities in the country, and more, including public basic education institutions, are expected to begin the school year in the next few weeks. Given the situation we find ourselves in right now, holding face-to-face classes remains a distant dream.
When the pandemic began a year and a half ago, nobody had any idea that it would last this long. At that time, the abrupt shift to online education was seen as a stop-gap solution, perhaps to run for a few weeks, until the COVID threat disappeared.
But it did not disappear. It only got more menacing, more paralyzing—and closer to home.
Over the past year, both students and teachers learned that there was nothing easy about learning and teaching from home. Only a small percentage of families had the optimal tools like computers, tablets, mobile, and a reliable internet connection, or even space in the house conducive to learning. Basic education teachers went out of their way to bring printed modules to the homes of their students.
This radically different mode of education did not guarantee effective learning, especially since the remote set-up is happening as students, teachers, or their family members are getting sick of COVID-19 or dealing with the economic consequences of the protracted lockdown.
And now we are starting another school year under the same arrangements.
It would be ideal if we could apply the lessons on the methods that worked—and didn’t—during the past year. What is the best way to assess how engaged the students are? How can we be certain students fail to show up online or submit requirements because they are truly having difficulties, not manufacturing excuses? How can we ensure it’s the children who actually do the exercises—not their parents or other family members?
The truth is, we are as stumped as we were the first time, especially since the virus’ new variant is threatening even children who are supposed to have stronger immune systems.
As before, we will make do with what we know and what we have, hoping that our individual and collective learnings from this whole experience would tide us through.