KNB News Desk
Srinagar 12 July (KNB): Several academicians from Kashmir believe that teaching students through online mediums have brought about the change much needed in the education system of the valley but the importance of in-person teaching will always have an upper hand as well is must for the proper development of a student.
Severe lockdown after the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th of August 2019—during which even internet services were bared for over 7 months—and then the on going Covid-19 pandemic followed the closure of Universities, Colleges and schools was ordered; education sector has been hit hard for more than 2 years across the valley.
Moreover, the government on Sunday extended the closure of all educational establishments across Jammu and Kashmir till July 31 but at the same withdrew weekend curfew in 16 districts.
A professor from Kashmir University told news agency Kashmir News Bureau that further closure of schools will not have a good impact but at the same time the government does not have much choice.
He said, “To say that e-classes have no meaning or relevance, is not at all true but at the same time it is quite appropriate to say that it does not deliver 100 percent.”
“During my school days, we would learn from the behaviour of teachers. The way they act as well as eat and when any of the students misbehave, they would call them in their chamber and advise/correct them,” he said, adding that such important things cannot take place on a cell phone or a laptop.
Regarding the importance of physical presence of teachers in middle and secondary schools, he said, “I believe online classes are beneficial under the circumstances but when it comes to students from middle and high schools, physical presence is a must. Especially, in this part of the world, where students and teachers are not really well versed with the use of related technology.”
“During online classes, teaches are not really able maintain the level of discipline, which they otherwise can achieve while being physically present inside a class room,” he emphasised, adding that it is natural to understand the difference between the impact of a person speaking as well as demonstrating things while being face to face than the one being several Kilometers away and talking about any subject on a screen.
He further said that online classes do not have much impact in the ways of learning for the students of the University. “Things are going well here. Yes! Students do miss the physical presence of lecturers/professors but then again they do visit us once or twice a week at the campus to clear their doubts,” he said, adding that they visit in groups of twos or threes, maintain appropriate distance from each other and discuss the issues.
The professor said that the way things are going—environmental and other changes taking place on the planet— “We may at any point in future face another similar problem (such as Covid) and then in tech savvy class rooms, online lectures will become necessary.”
He added that the Government must use its resources to develop better educational infrastructure so that e-classes have a real meaning.
The professor said that the Government must realise the fact that not every middle and secondary school student have the gadgets required to study online and it is their (Govt.) responsibility to suffice their needs and once the pandemic is over, the students can return the devices.
Qazi Sajad, a political science lecturer, told KNB that online classes have not been beneficial for all the students.
“Some students come from unprivileged backgrounds and do not have cell phones. Out of all the students I’ve taught during these years, some were not able to connect with us, either due to lack of Internet connectivity or not having smart phones,” he said.
Sajad said, “There is no comparison between online and in-person teaching. Being physically present in a classroom has a far reaching impact than that of teaching online.”
“Several incidents, such as students playing music during online classes have gone viral lately and this type of behaviour is only possible through e-classes but in-person teaching, such incidents could barely happen. This very behaviour evolving among the students worries us all,” he said.
Even though online teaching has been opted by the educational institutions, it’s proper utilisation and impact over the students as well as teachers has not been much discussed.
“One thing is for sure that competitiveness among the teachers has immensely increased because we all are aware that the lectures are being recorded,” he said, adding that the teachers now have to prepare better so that they can deliver lecturers with perfection.
“It is important to understand that even the teachers needed a particular training to learn the use of online applications as well as online teaching techniques cause many among had never faced the camera before and were just shy,” he said, adding that such steps should have been taken before the e-classes were initiated.
“But despite all these challenges, we must applaud the teachers for taking up the responsibility, adapting to these new ways and inexcusably educating the students of the valley,” he said.
“Government took measures which were important especially during the second wave of Covid-19 as children are most vulnerable but now that the situation is not really that critical and restrictions have been lifted over most of the sectors across the valley; it is also possible for the students to attend schools and should think about the same,” Sajad said, adding that if children as well as teachers are vaccinated and proper Covid Appropriate Behaviour is maintained; face to face classes can be held without any risks.
“Administration has to consider a lot of factors and if throwing school and colleges open is not really the option but at least scheduling one day out of a week for the students to attend schools is possible and will remind the students about the educational establishments as they due to online classes, they seem to have forgotten it,” he emphasised.
He further said that if online classes were the ultimate teaching medium, European and Western countries wouldn’t have been sending their children to educational institutions.
Tejpal Singh, former principal in the Education Department told KNB that a lot of crucial time of students has already been wasted and where ever lockdown restrictions have been completely lifted; school and colleges could be made operational as well.
He said, “My personal opinion is that if community classes have already been taking place during the pandemic and caused no issues, then there should be no problem in allowing the students to attend schools or colleges in the areas where the Covid threat has been eliminated.”
“The impact of lockdown over the education of children of the valley has been drastic and it’s results will reveal itself in the due course of time,” he said, adding the impact of the education in a society does not come to surface immediately but takes years.
He further said that online classes could never match the power of in-person teaching. (KNB)