Encapsulated in covid-19 the whole world is suffering from uncertainty. Nobody can tell when this dreaded enemy will be put down human Civilization has never experienced such an unusual enemy before. It has impacted on social and economic sphere on a massive scale unprecedented in nature. Physical in distancing is a key factor that has thrown everything helter scelter. Education is one such casualty. The students of the future generations of every nation are facing great hindrances to the career at the beginning of their lives. Schools colleges Universities are shut to them. Physical distancing has nullified classroom attendance Normally during this time of the year new classes start the students in schools and colleges feel very enthusiastic to attend classes and take up new studies but covid-19 has mandated them to stay in doors .Instead a new system of teaching has been introduced euphemestically called online teaching .Given the great adapting capacity of the children to their environment online classes have in most cases become a blessing to them. During this time the children of primary school level have found themselves comfortable to this new form. Firstly, because it is something new to them Secondly, they can attend classes from home. Studying from home to them is similar to work from home their parents are doing . They have accepted the new reality with some grace.

Point no. 2.On line classes can, by any stretch of imagination, be considered substitute for actual class room attendance.

Classroom environment exudes a vely academic spirit that is very essential for the mental development of the children. But in the present situation the next best alternative is online teaching

Lastly, the authority should put in every effort to augment the number of teachers in the schools in urban and rural areas.

Regular monitoring of the system should be made.

Let us hope we shall overcome this situation and every thing will soon become normal.

Just like ‘Work from home”becomes the new norm for IT related jobs on line education will also be well set. This will open a great horizon not only to the learners but also to the educators. For example with New Education Policy emphasis is on learning the ‘mother tounge’ during early childhood. But what about the lot of those who have moved away from their home towns because of their parents’ jobs?

They are made to learn the local language along with Hindi. This is understandable. But what is about their mother tounges?

No. 05 the psychological impact of covid-19 is no doubt very great. The students are at present feeling that they have been imprisoned. They are not allowed the open sky and the playing field . They are shut from their peers. On line can provide them some respite no doubt when they can talk to each other and see themselves on the screen but the overall impact is difficult to assess right now. Examination preparation may prove to be a bit difficult to some of them. Scope for course correction is little. So they may be struck by frustration sometimes. Of course the impact is different for different age groups parents may have a tendency to help their children out of way in examination at home. If obedient to rules is not observed online examination will fall flat. As a result the wards will suffer.

One very impotant point must be mentioned. Being glued to the screen for a long time may have great bad effect on the eyes. On the nerves. This is more serious for the chi ldren and the adults who already have had impaired eyes.

No 4 point. It would be very difficult to be sure about the probable drop out cases without adequate data at this moment. But it goes without saying that there a threat to it. Most of the students come from lesser privileged section of the society. They can not afford to have the sophisticated appurtenances needed for online studies. Stable internet connection is also a problem in many corners of the country. Though this is not the only reason for drop out cases. Even today in conventional system they fail to take real education because of economic backwardness. Midday meal may be a device to attract students. But that is no solution to academic backwardness. They feel attatracted to the meal than to studies.

So huge development of infrastructure is mandated.

I think both conventional and on line tution go hand in hand. Because that is the beckon call of future.

Now I am coming to point number 3 covid-19 has impacted on every aspect of the society including education it will have compelling effects on reschedueling the entire syllabus from primary to post graduate levels.There will be great contradiction or hiatus between the syllabus and the topics under study and examinationthere under. It willing not be proper and wise because students are given to learn something which is not covered well in class rooms but examinees are asked to sit for exam for all the topics. This would be injustice to them as well as forgery of examination system. Covid teaches that too much of exercises is bad enough for the children as well as the elders. However we have to wait and see for the effects on education the covid-19 has inflicted.

The present situation only show that all are aimless and not moving towards right direction.

We will be entering in an evolving academic world and for higher grades, on line classeswill definitely open wider horizons. Many children in cities have been well used to on line operation and activities before Covid.

So this will not put them to great difficulty.

They feel more attracted to midday meal than to class room studies.

Here is where the importance of online education can be comprehended.It can play a vital role seamlessly by allowing children to log into their mother languages. For example a Bengali child sitting in Bangalore or Mumbai may choose not to learn Hindi but want to learn Bengali second language. The schools should be equipped to provide a platform where the pupil can log in a classroom in WB log in to enable himself or herself to learn the language. This option is brilliant and must be explored right now in conformity with the spirit of the NEP.

By

Prof. Pulak Narayan Dhar, Former Departmental Head-Political Science Maulana Azad College