Corona Saga: Age of change in education

Ved Prakash Bhardwaj

Some colleges of Delhi University have announced short-term online professional diploma courses. All courses will be of 30 to 40 hours. The goal of these diploma courses is to enable students to work for various fields with expertise. Few courses are related to some foreign languages. Some colleges have contracted with foreign institutions for that. It is not yet clear whether these diploma courses will be recognized in government jobs. It has not been clear from the UGC whether those courses have been recognized or not. Since the last two months, there are indications about education that perhaps the upcoming session will have to be run online this time. The possibility of opening the college is being expressed only after November this year. In such a situation, online short term courses can be beneficial for students. One thing has to be kept in mind that these courses do not become just a certificate. If students can actually learn something from them, then only they will benefit. It is necessary to clarify the situation at UGC and Government level also. It should not happen that both the UGC and the government later declare these courses invalid.

Nothing can be said about how our life will be in times to come due to the Corona crisis. We have to change our education system according to the changing conditions. This change can be in the form of an online short term course. Also, changes will have to be made in the regular course. Changes have become necessary especially in the context of school education. Online education for children up to the secondary level may not be as easy. According to the experiences so far, it is not possible for children to study for a long time on a computer or mobile. Children are unable to maintain concentration in online classes. Teachers also have no control over children. Parents also have to sit with children which will be a major problem. In addition, the homework and projects given to the children will be a major problem in how they will be evaluated. Right now we have time to consider these problems and find a solution. Corona has changed lives, so we must change the education system as well.