The global pandemic of COVID-19 is a health catastrophe. The coronavirus began as a life-threatening epidemic, but this outbreak will create lasting changes in the way we live and work. Unimportant businesses were shut down and government officials – at state and federal levels – told citizens to stay home.
Schools were closed, forcing college students to stay indoors. For almost everyone who works and studies at home, online video calls have become a way to go and interact with colleagues and friends.
Policymakers claim that: “With the schools closed, we make the biggest test of online teaching and homework. As soon as glitches have been worked out, online education will have proved to be an effective form of education. While there, usage will jump up. It will be used in conjunction with traditional human learning. The cost of college can be greatly reduced as more students will love online courses.”
Every country that is suffering from COVID-19 has made legitimate and immediate decisions to shut down academic institutions like schools, colleges, and universities. This health calamity has given rise to the conundrum which is being majorly faced by policymakers of every country.
At the start, the policymakers were in confusion about whether to keep academic institutions shut down or re-open them. This disruption also has posed many problems to the parents of students as it gave a wave of disruption to their productivity along with disrupting student’s social life as well as academic life. The education system has been transferred to the online platform.
School assessments also have been transferred to the online but they have chances of trial, error, and uncertainty. Many examinations also have been canceled due to this issue and these cancellations are not done for the short term, they have long term consequences that are faced by students and faculty members.
Going to schools, colleges and universities have always been the best public policy for improving the skills of students. Even if the school is missed for a shorter period of time, it leaves a long-term consequence on student’s lives.
During the crisis situation, most of the educational opportunities have been missed by the students. To overcome this type of crisis and not letting this pandemic result in the loss of education systems, the policymakers have introduced online platforms where classes can be conducted. School closures not only impacts students, teachers, and families but far-reaching economic and social consequences.
School closure in response to COVID-19 has enlightened us on a variety of social and economic issues, including student debt, digital literacy, nutrition, homes, and access to child care, health care, housing, internet, and services.
Closure of schools, colleges, and universities have resulted in postponing and cancellation of examinations and assessments. Child’s progress can’t be reported to teachers and parents as it was reported before the pandemic. This pandemic has caused the lockdown of academic institutions which has disadvantages on the front line but is also good for some people.
It also has some benefits. For instance, in Norway, it has been decided that all 10th-grade students are going to get their high school degree. It is a mistake to believe that online reading can work by posting tutor notes online or video recording while in conversation.
However, this is what is happening the most right now.
Unplanned internet delivery will have an impact on the quality of programs. This is unfortunate at a time when great achievements have been made in improving the quality of teaching and learning in tertiary institutions.
Experience has shown that online learning quality requires instructional materials to be prepared by a trained instructional designer. The instructor should be trained to administer the program and that students are equally open to online learning.
In the section of higher education like universities and colleges, they have not canceled the exams. They have replaced traditional examination systems with the online educational system.
But majorly, graduate’s careers have been severely interrupted by this lockdown. In their final part of the studies, they have faced many interruptions. Most likely, they are going to get their graduation degree when the global recession will be initiated.
Need of the Hour
Now the solutions to overcome problems caused by academic institutions are being designed by policymakers. Schools, universities, and colleges must be provided with resources to rebuild their course’s loss once they are opened again.
The uncertain situation should be released at once to overcome the mental barriers of students. It will help escalate the confusion of the minds of students.
Teaching Assistant at eRozgaar Training Program Pakistan. A Proud Graduate Engineer working as a Content Writer in Freelance Marketplace.
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