How India's Students Have Adapted to Online Learning

With the second-largest population and an economy that keeps growing larger and larger, India is a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. From towering mountains to white-sand beaches and serene temples to hectic cities, India is an enriching and euphoric experience for travellers. Nevertheless, for more than 1.3 billion people, it's home.

And, although India is a unique place in so many regards, like all countries worldwide suffering through the spread of the coronavirus in a year we all wish we could forget, it has had to implement new laws and restrictions to flatten the curve and avoid contagion amongst citizens.

While all lucrative and essential sectors have taken a hit and quickly scrambled to stay afloat in a world that is sinking, there is one field that is still trying to adapt to change. Which is? The education system. Due to COVID-19, most schools and education centres were forced to close in the early months of 2020 in India to respect social distancing laws and find solutions to continue teaching students necessary information amidst a pandemic; which is no easy task!

How Have Students Adapted?

Thankfully, we are living in the digital age and the internet had already introduced online tutoring to global citizens in the past decade before the virus changed our reality. For instance, a lot of Uni students hire private tutors for remedial support and have not had to struggle so much since virtual classes with professors are quite similar to online lessons with tutors.

Also, online platforms such as Google Meet, Zoom, and Skype were slightly familiar to most people in the education industry which made finding a solution to in-person courses more attainable. Nonetheless, it is one thing to superficially know the purpose of an app then to actually master each function and teach an online classroom of more than 20 students the basics of algebra!

Therefore, much adapting is taking place for students and teachers to replace the traditional classroom with online lessons. Also, for young children, their parents have had to learn more about the new techniques used in the classroom to be up to date with their child's learning.

A Struggle Between the Rich and the Poor

While many countries have had to adapt to online education, India disparity of wealth and equality has made the virtual classroom a complex place for so many. Why's that?

For example, richer students living in populated cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkatta, face no issues transitioning from in-person classes at their secondary school to online lessons with their teacher on a platform like Zoom. Why not? Because their stable internet connection and previously installed home wifi make learning from their pad a walk in the park!

However, students living in rural areas of India have a mountain of challenges to overcome with regard to online learning. For those with no access to home wifi they’ve had torely on 4G mobile internet that is unstable and not always available in isolated places. Additionally, poor families in India's largest metropolises barely have enough money to make ends met and buy groceries. Hence, purchasing a cellular device with an internet plan is not even an option, which leads to poor Indian schoolchildren missing classes and falling behind in comparison to pupils from prosperous families.

Is There a Solution?

Since online learning in state-run schools is a new phenomenon that was not used before the onset of COVID, it will take some time for education officials, teachers, and students to find a happy medium where everyone is satisfied and provided with the learning/teaching environment that is necessary to grow. We're only starting to get to know the virus; therefore, every aspect of life that it has affected may take years to return to "normality."

And, while the best Indian schoolteachers possess the motto of leaving no child behind, for now, parents will have to go above and beyond to make sure that their child is getting a good education and, in this way, aid the teacher since they already have so much on their plate learning how to conduct virtual courses.

All in all, we must recognise that none of us was prepared for a deadly virus that has taken the lives of more than 119,000 Indians. Consequently, to make online learning a success story for all parties involved, adaptability, a positive outlook, and cooperation are needed. Have faith dear readers, the best is yet to come!