Lockdown and Cry for Online Classes
May 6, 2020
Time for Academic Session for schools varies in different countries. The new Academic Session begins around third week of April every year in Nepal. Every parent or guardian wants their kids to go to school since educating children is the key concern of parents. Other stakeholders including school and university leaders, managers and teachers want to welcome their students in school or university for regular classes. However, we are in such a time of history that many governments across the globe have imposed lockdown due to the wide spreading COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the thousands millions school-going children to their homes. In Nepal, the government has announced nationwide lockdown since 24th March 2020 and it is expected to continue for several more weeks or months in order to contain Corona virus from spreading.
The situation of the corona contagion is most likely to come under control soon, as our borders points have been sealed and international flights are in a complete standstill. Our school students are safe with us/parents at home. Except the students of Grade X, XI and XII, other school children have already appeared their final examinations and most of them also received their results as well and now it is their leisure. As a parent and a school manager, I am not worried about closure of the schools now because my kids’ safety comes first. We need to internalize the fact that classroom is not only the place; the teachers are not only the persons; and the books are not only the source of knowledge and learning at this age.
The havoc created by the pandemic will soon come to an end and the situation will turn normal within a couple of weeks or months, if not years. There is no point in bothering much about the classes though the time for new academic session of 2077 BS has already started in our context. Actually, a real learning takes place at home in presence of parents and their help and of other family members. We can instill in them the skills of doing various household chores such as washing clothes, cleaning kitchen utensils, cleaning their rooms, arranging beds, cleaning rest rooms, chopping vegetables, helping in cooking, using gas stove, watering in the garden, mopping, letting them do some creative and imaginative activities they love the most, such as telling stories, sharing historical facts about national heritages, telling them biographies of social activists or national heroes, letting them practice musical instruments and so on. They can read story books, paint, draw, and do craft works. Thus, the senior students pursue their interests and hobbies while smaller children enjoy the company of parents. These are the real life skills required in all quarters of life.
Hence, this is a rare opportunity for us to sit with them, be with them , and understand them. What are their interests? How are they doing with them? What kind of supports do they need from us at home and from their teachers at school? We can try to maximize our unwavering support for their learning and growth. Although we have been doing these things for a long time, we can do them differently and patiently at this time of lockdown. We can build up their confidence, motivate and inspire them on how to cope up with this kind of pandemic and unexpected situation in the future as well. Of course, this situation has taught us some great lessons about our lifestyle, family bond, healthy food habit, rigorous mental/physical exercises, balance between rest, work and sleep, for immunity and humanity.
Before the beginning of something, we need to have necessary preparation for the effective execution of a plan in order to accomplish the set goals. Several discussions have also been held regarding conduction of online classes for the school kids. No doubt, this is the high time we need to think and discuss online classes and prepare in future as an alternative way to teach students when schools are closed due to disaster or any untoward incidents. But this is not possible right now for many schools because the schools do not have necessary plan and preparation let alone the required technology before the lock down. Many students have been stuck in the remote villages sans laptops/computers, or internet access and perhaps they are not familiar with the required technology and application. Many teachers are themselves not technologically well equipped either. Hence, instead of bothering much about online classes for the kids at this hour of crisis; it is better that teachers and school leaders/managers can train themselves during this lockdown. They can also gather necessary materials; learn various creative and exciting games and activities as teaching and learning tools so that the lockdown period could be fully utilized and the classes after the lockdown will be more informative and effective. Online classes can be applicable for senior students who are from city areas as they can have availability of electricity and internet facility. Regarding the students of Grade X, XI and XII, they are matured. So, they can continue the preparation of their examinations in companion of their parents. Teachers also can conduct virtual classes for them during the tough time in presence of parents or guardians.But conducting such online classes forcefully for school kids of Primary and Middle School at present is no more than waste of time and an act of polluting the walls and pages of social media.
