Future of Higher Education in Pandemic: Digital or Physical

 

 

Covid has created a new class of youths. They are called as NEET (Not in education, employment or training). They are not exactly unemployed but they are not engaging themselves in any creativity. This grim situation has compelled the teachers, parents, educationalists to adopt a concept of remote learning with technology. Some academicians came out with an idea of Micro schooling. Both the ideas worked and spiked up the interest among students and teachers but only remote digital learning was the first preference. A survey made by BARC INDIA and Nielsen in this current pandemic situation reveals that, there is a 30% increase in time spent in educational app by students.  Many students are unhappy because they have not been interacted with their peers for a long time. They want that old academic situation to resurrect.  In order to address this many educational institutions are contemplating the notion of Digital plus Physical.  A blended learning environment will be introduced where student has to adopt both digital or online learning and physical learning. Off course this plan cannot be materialised now. It needs a long-term planning. 

.  A survey by Harris poll on behalf of Pearson reveals that 80% students think that educational institution will fundamentally change the scope of operation – means digital plus physical and 88% students positively feel that online teaching and learning will be the part of higher education system. A subtle difficulty will appear with this blended or hybrid learning activity. It will be an obstacle for poor and underprivileged students as far as learning are concerned.

Here comes the real problem, 87% students think that  not everyone has the access to technology and 84% consider online education and pandemic has digitally divided the students; those who have access to technology and those don’t have according to Harris poll. Yes, it is an unavoidable scene. Many of the students don’t have smart phones or internet or even electricity. Two students, one in Punjab and another one in Kerala, have committed suicide because lack of access and no smartphones for online education. Remote learning for higher education cannot be possible with this type poor technological infrastructure.  Technology is a bridge but in many cases it is a jack which connects but widens the gap. And in pandemic it is a jack.

Another survey by Pearson also shows that 77% students are agreed in view to reopen college for a healthy society. Economic growth and sustainability for generation to come must be balanced. But continuous lockdown and less positive signs to control this pandemic have put an insurmountable task before many higher education institutes to reopen. There are many challenges which can be foreseen. The first challenge is student’s retention and persistence.  The second one is teaching and learning. We never know the strategies to cope with when educational institutions will open. How to arrange class , what will be the seating arrangement, what will be the hostel boarding and if it is digital learning we know that many institutions and their staffs are not well versed and well equipped with technology. Post pandemic education scene will be very dramatic and stressful. Currently remote learning is a problem. It is predicted that it cannot be delivered in an equitable, inclusive and innovative way.

UNESCO released a projection that 24 million students may not back to education in 180 countries. In this pathetic education scene we can add another 258 million who were already out of education. Jointly 282 million students are out of education by end of this 2020. Thanks to this pandemic.  

As far as India is concerned, our National educational policy has the mechanism to track down dropout in educational institutions due to various reasons. In this connection National sample survey of India 2018 reports that as many as 3.22 crore students are drop out from educational institutions. . Ironically in these six months i.e March to August 2020, of learning gap dropout has doubled its number. It is estimated that 7 crore pupils will be out of education because of pandemic impact. Many students prefer to help their parents in MANREGA and they don’t want to continue their studies. Interstate migration and job loss are also fuelling these dropouts. Another forecast is that the enrolment activities will be dropped down and nearly 11 million students will not join in primary and secondary level of education in India.

National Mission on Education for Information Technology (MNEICT) is planning for new educational channel which could be answer to modern educational crisis occurred due to Covid 19.  MNEICT offers a kaleidoscopic view of modern ways of learning to students, whose education and learning activities have been standing still for 6 months. MNEICET is also very meticulous about content development. It engages best faculty by keeping students retention in view.  National mission on education for information technology (MNEICT) depends on DTH service to deliver this content to students all across the India. This may work to reach most of the students including those who don’t have access to smart technology like smart phone or internet. As per a survey, accessibility to DTH is 70% where as smart phone is accessed by only 35% of Indians. Most of us aware of SWAYAM PRABHA , a combination 32 DTH channels . Hope SWAYAM PRABHA may be roped in to help many of students in this Covid 19. Yes, as far as broadcast is concerned SWAYAM PRABHA repeats the same content five times in a day so that a student can adjust its timings and less chance to miss the learning activity.  So smartphone or online learning may be replaced by DTH learning.

Every life is affected. We are uncertain about our future. Many schools of thought have appeared. Some advocates for reopening, regular examination, some preach for procrastination of everything and some advice to follow Covid guidelines. But the reality is that online education is the future. Colleges are adopting, engaging and holistic learning for retention, engagement and knowledge flow.