There's no doubt to the fact that Covid-19 has changed the education structure across the globe entirely. With the outbreak of the pandemic, schools got shut down worldwide. Statistics say, in 186 countries, over 1.2 billion children got out of classrooms. Naturally, the 'new normal' – the 'learn from home' strategy gave birth to a rapidly growing 'e-learning' culture.
Many online learning platforms provide free access to their services in response to significant demand, including platforms such as BYJU'S, a Bangalore-based educational technology and online tutoring firm established in 2011, which is now one of the most highly regarded educational-technology businesses in the world.
The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development linked up with television service providers of many states and Union territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, and West Bengal, to assign particular channels for conducting regular television lectures.
Besides, university departments set up accounts to engage with students on online video conferencing sites like Zoom Video Communications Inc., Skype Inc., and Google LLC.
But the scenario is not as convenient to all as it seems. Classroom education is no more available to almost 60.2 million school teachers and university lecturers only in India, let alone worldwide. School closures have affected students, teachers, and families enormously, especially those belonging to society's down-trodden section. For poor kids and their families, the effect was more severe. Nearly 70 percent of children attend government schools in India, and most people still live in rural areas. In such colleges, national digital learning is virtually impossible and comes with the cost of opportunity.
By Abhra Roy
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