Disrupting the Textbooks
“It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education” -Nelson Mandela
Education is everyone’s right, not an elitist privilege. Schools are places where great minds are molded and personalities are developed; hence primary education should be made free and compulsory for all.
Unfortunately, even today 22 percent of the world’s population doesn’t have the means to a decent education. Due to the pandemic, educational institutions around the world have been forced to shut down. This has led to over a billion students who are out of the classroom. The disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis to already overburdened educational systems, combined with economic shocks and the increased pressure on public finances, creates a potentially lethal cocktail for education funding. However, while education is a victim of the pandemic, it can also be the solution needed for the longer-term recovery, if funded properly. With the surge of the pandemic, the need of the hour was to immediately shift all learning to online platforms, without much delay. The pandemic has caused a lot of students to drop out as parents are not able to afford reliable internet access and technology, due to which students are unable to take part in digital learning. Sometimes the very environment in which some of these children live is not conducive to learning. The problems are manifold and need to be addressed.
We all know that the strength and quality of education lies in the teachers an institute nurtures. Teachers have needed to change their mundane teaching methods and adapt to evolving technology-centered teaching. Despite the great respect that Indian culture has for the role of a teacher or guru in the life of a student, it appears as though this respect is only skin deep. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that teachers are an undervalued part of our society. UNESCO’s State of Education Report for India found that 42 percent of teachers across the private and government sectors were working without a contract and earning less than Rs 10,000 per month. Despite this abysmal pay, a teacher doesn’t abandon their responsibility. It isn’t uncommon to hear about teachers putting in their own money to get resources for classrooms when the school doesn’t allocate funds for the same. The contribution of teachers, especially during the pandemic, to lead in this crisis and reimagine the future has been extraordinary, as they have tried making sure that education has reached the remotest parts across the globe using available technology.
If social welfare centers worked together with governments as well as technology firms that pursue serious CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) goals, a lot more could be done to provide tools and solutions to every home and every child. Advertising the importance of continuing education would also help. The majority of cases of COVID-19 in India have affected people between ages 31 and 40 years. When combined with the fact that the pandemic has taken 500 thousand lives, it isn’t hard to see that the devastation left in the wake of the pandemic has left many families without a breadwinner. It is of utmost importance that the government take immediate actions to uplift those who have lost the most during the pandemic and ensure that the children in these families aren’t stripped of their right to quality education.
In recognition of the International Day of Education, we appreciate the steps taken by the governments of those countries who have invested in resources to make education accessible to all. We remember every teacher who has not let the disruption in methods interfere with the quality or content of his or her teaching. We remember and applaud every child who may not have had the best gadget or technological means out there but didn’t let that stop them from learning. Most importantly, we look forward to a future world where education is accessible to all and where every unique child’s need is met and not ignored or forgotten.
Co-Author: Adam Jijo
