The outbreak of COVID-19 has cast its shadow in every walk of life, forcing people to say at home and businesses to come to a pause.
Besides its health and economic crises, the novel coronavirus is also resulting in massive social distress affecting all ages including students who are prevented from getting an education on their school premises.
Since the start of the outbreak, several countries have shutdown schools nationwide, impacting almost over a billion children and youth who would normally attend pre-primary, upper-secondary to a higher class.
Though there is solid evidence that avoiding public gatherings like schools could significantly help to contain the spread of the virus, the pandemic’s ramifications go to undermine the right to education per the report of UNESCO.
On the other hand, psychologists are also warning the possible psychological impacts on students resulted from learning disengagement.
Schools are more than academic environments for students. They are the means where students stay connected with their teachers and fellow students. This trend is forcing countries to move to implement digital learning and keep students afresh.
In response, innovative and e-learning solutions are being prescribed by policymakers to maintain the continuity of learning and assure inclusion and equity. Despite resource constraints, schools should find a way to reach out to their students whether by allowing access to digital library and/or online teaching. Open sources of digital learning; digital library centers should be adopted so that teachers can impart lessons online.
The government needs also to provide efficient internet services for online learning to be effective and also has to design effective lessons to fit radio and television transmissions. Families of the students should also dedicate time to helping children in their studies need to provide counseling services as much as they can. To this end, all bodies who have streamlined tasks on digital solutions and education firms should join hands to make digital education accessible.
The Ethiopian Herald May 1/2020
