Students express inability to learn through online classes during lockdown
K M Dayashankar
NISA and TRSMA conduct a nation-wide survey on learning loss in school education during the pandemic
Students preferred activity and project based learning and preferred special classes to overcome losses caused due to pandemic
KARIMNAGAR: The students had expressed their inability to learn and cope up with the online system of education during the academic year 2020-2021 following the outbreak of pandemic virus.
Majority of students preferred activity and project based learning to update their skills and knowledge with the restart of all schools from the academic year 2022-2022. Rural students mostly affected due to non-availability of internet facilities for watching online classes
These and many more startling revelations were made by the students of budget private schools during a survey on learning loss in school education during the pandemic conducted by the National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) in association with the Telangana recognised schools management association (TRSMA) in the country. Survey was conducted under the supervision of NISA advisor and Paramita educational institutions chairman E Prasada Rao.
Disclosing the details of the survey in Karimnagar town on Wednesday, Mr Prasad Rao said that they had taken up nation-wide with the students of third, fifth and eighth class standards from the budget private schools to assess the learning gaps and loss among the students during the pandemic. A total of 1502 students sample was taken for the survey including 461 rural students, 155 semi-urban, 850 urban schools and 36 students from international schools.
The students were asked to give self-assessment and the same was assessed through a pen and paper test (diagnostic test) to corroborate the achievement scale in reading, writing and comprehension in Mother tongue language, English and mathematics. It was observed that the students faced challenges in reading and writing their mother tongue languages including rural and urban schools. International school students had excellent scores in reading, writing and understanding English, but showed poor performance in mother tongue languages.
However, majority of students faced problems in understanding the Mathematics teaching in online model. The survey also found that 45 per cent of students expressed difficulty in coping up with the present class in 2020-2021 where as 33 per cent were not feeling confident of pursuing the present class and more than 45 per cent students expressed their desire for special classes to cover the learning loss and gaps.
The survey also stated that the 43 per cent students went through stress, tension and anxiety during the pandemic situation and confinement at their homes. The research head said that they would be submitting the survey details to all the education department heads in all the states including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
TRSMA state president Y Shekhar Rao said the outbreak of pandemic virus and the lockdown had caused a huge dent among the student community with the loss of academics. Alleging that the medical mafia created havoc about the virus for their selfish gains, he said that the physical classes were a must for the students to learn and excel in his life. TRSMA district secretary D Sripal Reddy was also present.
