“Modi never talks about schools”
Komal lives in Baramda (Alwar), a village situated near Rajasthan-Haryana border and has just passed her Class Xth exams with flying colors. Amidst the school closures, this diligent student who wants to pursue either maths or biology or both, awaits enrollment into higher secondary school.
At the outset, it is clear that Komal is an active student who used to play, study and enjoy with her friends at her local village school. She adds that she is also fond of her teachers, especially her science and social science teachers who explained concepts in detail as opposed to others who focused only on reading textbooks. Of course given the pandemic, she cannot go to school.
The day that the country went into lockdown, Komal and many more were writing their board exams. These students were then able to appear for the remaining subjects by the end of June. Unable to join a senior secondary school and having graduated from her old one, Komal is in no person’s (man’s) land. There are almost 9 lakh students who have passed RBSE class Xth exams as per the results declared in July, and many of them, especially in rural areas might be struggling with similar challenges given the lack of information and support by government officials.
Komal is unsure about which school will she be able to join even when schools reopen. She mentions that none of the government schools in the vicinity offer science streams and that she cannot join the only private school, stating that the teachers in the latter are not sufficiently qualified. She wonders aloud how could she pursue a STEM field without guidance from teachers?
“Science me to guidance chahiye na. Sirf book se kaise padhenge?”
Describing that education is a necessity in today’s time as it is required for securing employment opportunity, Komal says
“aajkal shiksha ka zamaana hai” ..
She adds that she might enroll in a nursing course after finishing school. Since the school closure, however, she spends her time doing house chores or stitching clothes like salwar suits and children’s frocks. While Komal seems determined to go back to school, I feel anxious as the drop out amongst girl students is projected to increase by 20% due to the pandemic. Without access to a smartphone or parental support and technically out of school, she is at a similar risk.
Q. Do you get to meet your friends these days?
A. Yes, the ones in the village. But others in school were from different villages, so we cannot meet.
Without access to personal phones, these young girls are entirely disconnected. This lack of connectivity becomes evident when we take a 10 minute break during the interview as Komal’s brother needed to use his phone urgently. Similarly, I tried to contact 7 other girls for an interview on the same day, none of whom had a personal phone. I was met with bad network, traveling siblings and a male family member who informed me that the girl was not interested.
Komal’s only present educational engagement started two weeks back when a community organization, Ibtada, started offering life skills classes at a government center nearby. At this center, students take responsibility for their safety and follow strict social distancing and sanitization protocols. This recent development makes her feel productive and she seems relieved that she gets to talk, laugh and discuss ideas with other students again.
Unlike her urban counterparts (Sarthak, Manvi) who expressed gratitude for more time with their families, Komal is unable to identify any benefits from the pandemic. She instead feels loss at this time of celebration and transition in her life. In a normal world, Komal imagines that she would have joined her new school and made new friends !
Q. According to you, what is going around you?
A. Corona numbers are rising, but not too many people are dying. There is also conversation on a vaccine.
Though aware that schools have been closed to protect children from Covid-19, Komal is restless for schools to reopen, and for information. Paradoxically, information is what is illusive to her right now. TV News serves as her only connection to the world outside her village and she informs me that she has watched all of Modi’s speeches in the hope of finding some information on his plans for students. But she disappointedly adds,
“Woh (Modi) school ke baare mein kuch bolte hi nahin hai.”
Similarly, her teachers or head master have not conveyed any information to the students. Neither have they spoken to students or their families about the pandemic. Frustration is palpable in Komal’s voice when she wonders aloud if someone like me could call her from Bangalore, why could her teachers not contact her?
While the teacher’s position is certainly complicated by the absence of clear government communication on the topic, regular student-teacher communication is essential to ensure students stay motivated for their return to the school environment. In my (little) experience of interviewing students, they feel cared for and empowered to have been heard. Additionally, such conversations can keep teachers attuned to students’ socio-emotional and academic needs amidst these dynamic times.
Komal for instance is apprehensive about her future and seems distressed about the prolonged discontinuation in her education at this pivotal moment in her life. Even if Komal was enrolled in a school and teachers offered online classes, she would not be able to participate since no one in her family owns a smart phone. Hence, notwithstanding the health risks, she suggests that the government should open schools for class 9–12th as they can take precautionary measures while younger children cannot be trusted. If some reports are to be trusted, this might be a reality soon, at least in some states*.
I sense anxiety in Komal’s voice along with the hope that this conversation will reach decision makers. I tell her, we can only do our bit and hope that our voices reach somewhere. When she is angry that her teachers expect the students to meet (and travel 4 kms when public transport is largely unavailable) them for any concerns, I also muster the courage to tell her to visit the school with her friends and seek support.
She doesn’t sound convinced. Neither am I.
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*I could not find any specific news or statement by the Rajasthan government on the topic of school reopening.
Please note that appropriate consent was documented and the interview was conducted on phone (21st Aug 2020) as part of an interview series with students in classes IX-XII about their experiences with online education and the pandemic. The interview was conducted in Hindi and rough translations are used wherever appropriate.
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