Pandemic to Endemic: Perceptions of Teacher Trainees on Challenges of Education

Abstract

The pandemic has brought a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and challenged the normal life of a human being with unprecedented challenges to public health and the world of work. The pandemics economic and social disruption of millions of people forcing them into poverty and malnourishment. The education sector too is not a limitation which was hitherto slow to change. The pandemic shocked the system with lockdown and transition to online teaching – learning during shutdown of schools. The challenges of pandemic are unending with increased dropouts, learning loss and high digital divide.

During this pandemic, education experienced a shift from regular contact classes to online platforms with teachers adapting to online pedagogy and the examinations being conducted online too. This situation exposed many deficiencies of education system right from access to supportive environments necessary to focus on learning. The Covid – 19 had severe impact on higher education as universities and all higher education institutions were shut and countries shut their borders as part of lockdown. Though higher education institutions quickly replaced their face-to-face lectures with online learning, it affected the teaching, learning and evaluation process. The safety and legal status of international students is highly jeopardized in their host country during lockdown.

The covid-19 pandemic sent shock waves across the globe. The education system switched to remote learning with challenges like access to technology, internet connectivity and managerial imperfections. Remote learning modalities adapted as an emergency response failed to reach all the students, handle mismanagement and control the flaws of students. India being a developing country faced tough challenges in providing access to all the students and the Government did its best by using satellite channels and television networks. The Government adapted and came up with immediate and innovative schemes and subsidies for free internet access, distribute free tablets and smartphones etc.

In the post-pandemic era though the traditional classroom teaching learning process is restored the drastic changes in social and physical living conditions of human society brought different set of challenges before the teaching fraternity. Students suffer with pandemic trauma, stress and other health issues. Learning capacity naturally depends on the good health of a child. Dedicated hours of study and rigorous routine are necessary for good academic achievement. Children who often fall sick show considerably low learning capabilities than a healthy child. Health is a must for agile learning. The recent pandemic has affected the health of the children as well as their concentration and skills. The students are hampered in their reading, writing and other academic skills. Added to this a series of endemic diseases like typhoid, malaria, dengue are creating multiple health issues for children. The student’s ability to attend classes, cope with their weaknesses, lack of coordination, reduced memory and other health issues.