Adapting fast to new technology, setting boundaries, and even bribery are some of the strategies parents are adopting to cope with the realities of home-schooling during the pandemic. “Even if I had the time, I cannot take on the responsibility of their schooling. It is too overwhelming,” says Neirita Hazarika, a doctor in Rishikesh and mother of two, as she tries to juggle the demands of work and schooling.
While older children have transitioned to home-schooling smoothly, primary students who can’t handle gadgets independently on their own are struggling. Akanksha Kapoor, mother of a kindergartner from Delhi says, “I have to sit with him for all his school hours. He also complains of headaches because of the long hours before the screen.”
Teachers are also having to adapt—and fast. Amita Chaudhuri, a French teacher from Delhi shares her experience, “Overnight I had to adapt teaching material to the new virtual classroom. I had to quickly learn technical features, navigate connectivity glitches and make sure students maintain decorum in the online class. It is definitely more exhausting than in the classroom.”
Children, as well as teachers, miss the social interaction that school offers. Sharmila Mitra, a teacher in Loreto College, Kolkata says, “Since I can’t see the expressions of students on screen, it leaves me unsure whether the students are understanding the material. For the students, the joy of learning with their friends is missing. The human touch is just not there!”
While traditional schools still remain the preferred site of education, home-schooling has accelerated the long-pending shift towards educational technology. Mitra says, “The pandemic has made me a more versatile teacher. I discovered that using technology in teaching is not that difficult. I intend to engage in hybrid teaching once things go back to normal.”
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