As students had to take lessons online due to the closure of educational institutions during the coronavirus pandemic, not all of them found the process satisfactory and most of them had face difficulties in coping up with this new system of education, according to a survey by the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT).
Poor internet connectivity, lack of knowledge of using electronic devices for effective educational purposes, lack of electricity and non-availability of electronic devices were some of the issues faced by the students in online learning.
With a view to address the issues related to gaps or loss of learning among students, during and after the lockdown, the ministry of education entrusted NCERT with the task of constituting a committee, comprising of academic and curricular experts drawn from NCERT, NIEPA, CBSE, KVS and NVS.
The Committee conducted a survey in KVS, NVS and CBSE schools for collecting information about various digital modes being used by students to receive online education and their concerns regarding children not having digital devices.
According to the survey focusing on the gaps and/or loss of learning among students, during and after the lockdown, 50 per cent students are facing problems.
“About 20-30% stakeholders shared that they had a difficult experience and about 10-20% said that it was burdensome for them,” the report said.
Moreover, 28 per cent of respondents said one of the major concerns hindering the teaching-learning process is due to ‘intermittent/ lack of electricity’.
Besides, approximately 27 per cent of the students mentioned the non-availability of smartphones and laptops.
To address the major issues of online learning, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually released Students’ Learning Enhancement Guidelines in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The Guidelines were prepared by the NCERT on the direction of the Ministry of Education for the present situation and also for post pandemic situation.
“The guidelines, models are suggested for the following three types of situations. Firstly, in which students do not have any digital resources. Secondly, in which students have limited digital resources available. Lastly, in which students have digital resources available for online education,” Pokhriyal said.