Obstacles to Online Learning During the Pandemic
The Absence of Learning Materials
Students have left their books behind. They are not available in their home districts, and even if they were, they are often prohibitively expensive. Those who relied on photocopies are now completely stranded. There are perhaps two students in a hundred with the intellectual fortitude to study effectively without such materials. For those who relied on tuition fees of 3,000 taka to survive the month, this is nothing short of a cruel farce.Fragile Internet Connectivity
Consistent connectivity is non-negotiable. At current speeds, uninterrupted participation is impossible. The frustration of attending with the video off is immense; one only needs to attempt using Zoom with the camera on to understand the chaos. The volatility of these connections serves only to discourage student engagement.Lack of Suitable Devices
Some lack phones, others lack laptops, and many lack both. While a laptop is not strictly essential, a functional smartphone is a prerequisite for online classes. For those without one, the path forward is non-existent.Power Outages
While outages may be infrequent in major metropolitan centers, the conditions in the sub-districts are dire. Take Patgram, for instance: if the sun shines too brightly or an autumn cloud drifts by, the power vanishes—often for days at a time. This is not an isolated case; one need only look at the state of electricity in any sub-district outside of the main city center to understand the despair.The High Cost of Data
Teletalk is arguably the most student-friendly operator, offering 10GB for 97 taka. Yet, their network coverage is inadequate. As for the other operators, their data charges border on the predatory. One need only visit their official websites to verify the extent of this financial exploitation.How Sikkim became a part of India?
Cybersecurity
We live in a democracy, where the act of speaking is an inherently high-risk endeavor. If I raise these grievances, I might well be branded a "traitor." If this is the climate for a student, what of the security of our teachers? I do not suggest that educators would engage in sedition, but an internet-dependent classroom brings the question of privacy to the fore. Zoom has as many detractors as it has users. This is not merely a single institution; it involves hundreds of thousands of students and educators. We must ensure an environment where objective, logical discourse is protected and participants are secure, regardless of their position.What is the Solution?
Before proceeding, we must establish the necessary infrastructure and address the systemic flaws. We are not government officials with the luxury of billing 400,000 taka for snacks during a video meeting. Students are concerned with their careers and the management thereof. Whether through live classes or recorded video lectures, they simply want to learn. The momentum must not be allowed to die. A viable alternative would be for teachers to record their lectures and upload them to a centralized server. This would eliminate the burden of synchronous online attendance. Those without the means to join live could access these files from local computer centers at their convenience.Read More: China-India clash in Ladakh: Who will win?
Furthermore, for students whose examinations have been deferred, a localized approach is necessary. Institutions could allow graduating students to appear for exams in person, adhering to strict social distancing protocols. By utilizing more classrooms to reduce density, we could avert the tragedy of permanent session backlogs.Blunt Truths
We are trapped in an educational system that demands we change our colors like chameleons to survive. We consume and regurgitate, retaining nothing. We have become as fluid as water, abandoning our individuality to suit the shape of the vessel. In this crisis, how many students have received a call from their instructors? Has anyone asked after their well-being? Even in normal times, how many teachers have reached out to discuss a student’s progress or financial struggles? Students are forgotten until the moment annual fees or admission dues arise. The relationship between student and teacher has degraded to the relationship between the citizenry and the government—a performative concern that surfaces only when it is time for an election. This is the failure of our educational ethos.What is the rule of law and why is it important in a democratic society?
There is inherent malice in our circles, and it will persist. We allow our grievances to fester into betrayal, misrepresenting one another to those in authority. We trade in rumors, chasing ghosts, only to find that the only casualty is the sincerity of our relationships. It is a profound shame that at the university level, some instructors actively participate in this backstabbing. They are the same figures who, from behind the lectern, grandly lecture us on equality and ambition. It is a tragedy from which there is no apparent escape. Every system has its merits and flaws; we must navigate the latter to reach the former. We cannot simply issue directives and wait for the vacuum to fill itself. The delay in commencing classes since the 9th of July is the direct result of mismanagement. This has mirrored our erratic preparation for the pandemic itself. We must take accountability to ensure efficient administration; otherwise, like our healthcare system, our education sector will become yet another festering wound on the nation. We must approach these issues with a clear, healthy mindset. If we treat this as a farce, we invite nothing but catastrophe.