Squaring Up To India's Education Emergency

Since March 2020, India has adopted the most rigorous school and university closures in the world! Today there is an education emergency in India, as all states have followed a total lockdown policy. Very few countries did so.?

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The Global Stringency Index tracked various countries' approaches and found that of the 503 days tracked, 5th March 2020 to 20th July 2021, India had 404 days to 100% closure. So more than 25 crore students in India have been taught only through remote learning processes. This is the world's largest number, ever!?

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Other countries haven't been as rigid at all. Europe began in-person schooling for some classes and in some locations, much earlier; they did it because the evidence was mounting of immense harm due to learning losses and socio-economic stress. Less developed ones like Uruguay and Vietnam also shut everything down only for 140 and 212 days respectively. While hybrid models were used, countries started prioritizing younger children first, for in-person learning, as also children of essential workers and with special needs. By March 2021, 51 countries resumed in-person education; another 90 began some other form of in-person education. India did not try anything like this while allowing festivals, gatherings, and similar congregations!

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This unprecedented shutdown in India has hit the youngest and poorest children (Dalits, tribals, and those without electricity and devices) the worst. Online became a joke for them, and there is no attendance data available. Crores simply gave up midway out of frustration. The net result will be horrible, in a few years.?

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The government is providing bright statistics of "increased digital usage", while crores have given up. Teachers were not trained for online, and are using Facebook and WhatsApp for connecting with students. Not all states even have the proper digital infrastructure or online connections.?

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For many crore Indian children, the loss of learning is one of the problems they face. As families have lost jobs and are ravaged by the pandemic, these children are now caring for the elderly and the sick, or are in the labor force.?

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The closure of schools has meant a breakdown in the nutrition supply of children including mid-day meals (MDMs). On one hand, schools are closed for children's safety, while on the other, they are out of the field working!?

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If we think that once schools open, some bridging course will patch things up, we are living in an illusion, because the learning gap is too wide now. The emergency now exists on education, health, and livelihood fronts. Each child needs attention as an individual. Each school needs a safe school opening plan, and all teachers must be vaccinated on priority. Coordination between health, sanitation, and transportation is needed. Encouragement to kids who have given up is needed. Each child's educational trajectory has to be tracked digitally too.?

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Can India pull its children out of the education lockout? Only time will tell.

- Aindri Abhishek Singh

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