Rise of eLearning during Covid-19

With the onset of the terrible pandemic wave, there were drastic changes all across the globe. Nothing was left untouched and every sector was hit hard. But along with this, the pandemic upsurge paved the way for technology, which gradually took the centre stage in every sector of the economy. And if we talk about the education sector, then a new chapter was marked in its history. ­­­

Through various technological advancements, Online learning became an indispensable part of the education world. Digital learning, increase use of smart devices such as smartphones, computers and tablets considerably changed the learning style and habits of the students. Keeping this in mind, the Education Department of Rajasthan introduced ‘E-learning’, an innovative measure that imparts education through various online learning programs. This initiative was started with a motive to provide online study and learning material to the students so that the education is not adversely affected during the lockdown.

Who would have thought that education and learning of children will be confined within the realm of mobile, computer and tablet! On this note, let us discuss various online learning initiatives by the government, which imparted efficient education to the students of Rajasthan.

E-Kaksha:
To ensure that children's education is not interrupted in the corona period, the government has started an e-class program in which the children are studying through mobile phones, YouTube channels and education apps. The main objective of e-class program is to create an e-library for all schools in the state so that students' learning is not interrupted even in the absence of a teacher. This is a commendable step by the government concerning the adverse circumstances of the pandemic.

Smile:
The biggest challenge for the government was not to disrupt students’ education during the corona period. Keeping this in mind, the education department started a smile program for all the government schools across the state. In this program, video content and study material are being made available to the students via WhatsApp.

Shiksha Darshan:
The Department introduced the Shiksha Darshan program due to the limited availability of internet in remote areas during the shutdown in Corona. Under this program, the textual content for the students is broadcasted through Television (Doordarshan).

Shiksha Vaani:
The department started this education program under which the course material for students is broadcasted through Radio (Akashvaani).

YouTube:
Apart from connecting through radio, TV and WhatsApp, students up to 12th standard can connect with their teachers live through the YouTube channel also. By taking live youtube classes, children receive quick responses to their curricular-related problems.

Making sure that no student is deprived of quality education, ‘eLearning’ has been successful in helping the pillars of our society i.e, teachers and students. It has very efficiently and effectively facilitated comprehensive education even at the time of global crisis like Covid-19.

Unique Innovations in the Field of Education Sector

Technological advancements and innovations have led to rapid changes in the field of the education sector in India. From conventional tools to support online teaching, to remote learning initiatives, education has reformed in a large way. Various steps taken towards these reforms have changed the scenario of learning culture across India. It is not only affecting the students and teachers but is also creating awareness amongst the public at large. 

Keeping this in mind, the Government of Rajasthan is striving resistantly to improve the education system of the state, along with unprecedented challenges and hurdles. According to the record, in the past two years, the education department has made a qualitative increase in the level of education. This has been done by the successful implementation of various schemes like No bag day, e-Kaksha, Bal Sabha, and many more. These schemes have won accolades not only at the state level but have also been recognized at the national level. Let us discuss some facts about these schemes and their profound impact on the students as well as teachers.

1. Bal Sabha: An initiative to identify and resolve issues in upper primary schools situated in the rural areas, Bal Sabhas’ focus is on bringing qualitative changes in education. The main objective of organizing meetings in public places is the all-round development of boys and girls, the participation of people in educational activities, qualitative improvement in education and financial support to the school from the community. It will be attended by parents, teachers as well as village people at large.

2. eKaksha: Keeping in mind the education of children getting disrupted in the Corona period, a unique initiative ‘e-class’ has been started by the Education Department where students are studying as well as learning online. This program has been started with a motive to impart quality education to the children all across the state with no physical contact.

3. Reduced weight of School bags: This initiative has been taken by the Government to reduce the burden of school bags for the children of government schools. Nearly two-third weight of school bags has been reduced for the students studying in grades 1 to 5. With this step, the children do not have to carry heavy bags to their schools. Along with this, every Saturday is celebrated as ‘no bag day’ in schools. On this day, activities related to the physical, mental, and intellectual development of children are conducted in the schools.

4. Honouring Teachers: Before 2018, only 68 teachers were awarded in the state every year but under the leadership of Shri Ashok Gehlot and Education Minister Shri Govind Singh Dotasra, the state government has decided to honour 1101 teachers every year. Not only this, the honour amount has also been increased six times. This year the government has honoured around 800 teachers for their outstanding service in education.

5. Honouring Martyrs: Martyrs are the real heroes of our land, who not only protect us but also sacrifice their lives for the motherland. Keeping this in mind, the state government has taken a unique step to honour their bravery and martyrdom. They have named more than 50 state government schools after the name of the martyrs from the state. Along with this step, the state has also decided to include the ‘biography of the martyrs’ in the syllabus of class 1 to class 12.

Heartache?? Lets heel it!

It’s for the special ones suffering with the most coveted fever- Love! [Actually, to be more precise, the scene after the heart attack (breakup!)]

I once believed, Love is simply a happiness with blend of emotions like, forgiveness, candidness, anger, jealousy, feeling of hatred, at times like a habit, an infatuation, an expectation figure, et al. But all these beautiful and jelly-coated adjectives turn sour when you are been dumped and he asks you to move on!

As love is more being just a kid. It has to be looked upon as a mature gift by God and those who play with it like a kid, usually end in breaking it up!

While observing kith n kin and some hidden acquaintances, (Sshh...) I have realized that there are actually 2 phases, when you are trying hard to come/cope up from a relation (rather been pushed out!).

The first one commences when you start saying things like, ‘It’s too much now, I think I should move on now’, I’ll forget about him & would no longer think of him or call him’…But naah, here comes the innocent gaffe and you end up calling (or message!) him/her (wherever you fit in!) at some odd hour of the day and thus fail to stay erect in your commitment! You then think that, No I really can't live without him, I can’t move on, I want him back…Things like that! You start feeling suffocated, lonely and mournful. You feel as if it was yesterday only when he had opened his heart in front of you or had caressed you in the most adorable fashion you had ever wished for…You curse the moment when he ditched you or walked past you. At that moment of time, you look for some shoulder to grieve upon and a listener who could listen about him (without any cost-free advice!), even if it’s in the wee hours of morning! But all this happens, when just few months have passed off (after ‘partition!’).

Now comes the second phase. And it means that the time has grown more. In this phase you get to realize, that now it’s time to get mature, think wisely and look for a pragmatic approach. We start thinking about the real ‘Happiness’ of our lover (to be precise, ex-lover!). We start believing that even if we are apart, still our lover is happy. And that is the thing which should matter the most! (Puppy love been modified to mature love! I know, I know!)

As you grow and enter the phase two, you start realizing two things. One being his ‘Happiness’ (already been discussed) and the other being ‘Sacrifice’ (on your part!). You realize that you have got to sacrifice your inner feelings, your irresistible desires and alluring wishes for 'his' happiness…

As you now know, ... He is genuinely happy without you...

He has moved along, even if you have stayed behind…!

Barbarism in the name of culture!

A child, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife and above all a Mother! So many names with so much of responsibilities and so much of sacrifice; yet, she is deprived of her sole desire-Freedom…

The soul acting as the backbone of the nation is shockingly, being crushed each and every day! And knowingly or unknowingly, we ignore it!

In this segment I’ll try to bring forward one of the paralyzing issue of our society: "Child Marriage", through a shocking story of an 8 year old, which was not even a teenage girl, yet was turned, to a woman and in the most brutal way!

A tribal girl of the north-western Yemen area (near Saudi border) named 'Ravan' was forced to marry a man 5 times her age. Naive 8 year old, didn't know that she was going to see her parents for the last time on her wedding. On her wedding night, her 40 years old husband asked for his conjugal rights. Being young and totally unaware of the process, her under-developed body suffered deep injuries that led to tear in her genitals which ultimately and most obviously led to her death!

Shocking? Indeed it is. But to many, it is not! As child marriage is not Illegal in Yemen, and so, it is just another case of just another girl in Yemen.

Tribal leaders of the town denied to any such mishap, though Yemen and Kuwait activists called for the police to arrest the girls’ husband and family. European Union foreign policy chief, Lady Ashton remarked, “The case should be investigated without delay and all those responsible for this crime, should be prosecuted”. But is this the only justifiable solution?

Let us have a glance on some of the statistics behind:-

Ø  The Legal age for marriage is 15 years in Yemen.

Ø  According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), in Yemen nearly 52% are married before age of 18 and 14% before the age of 15 years.

Ø  HRW urged Yemen in December 2011 to ban marriages of girl under 18 as it deprives her from education as well as face health difficulties.

Ø  Report also says that, child brides-to-be are kept from school when they reach puberty.

Ø  According to International Center for Research on Women, girls below age 15 are 5 times more likely to die while giving birth than the ones in 20s.

Ø  And most importantly, under HRW norms every person regardless of their age must give their consent before marriage.

The Causes that lead to early girl marriage are more shocking. The most common answer which activists get to hear most frequently, is:  “It is the customs we follow”!

Now do we really call ourselves modern with such a hypocritical and superstitious belief?

Reports suggest that many poor families in Yemen force their daughters’ to marry or sell them so that, they could be saved from the costs of bringing her up, in addition to the extra money they get in the form of dowry from boy’s family. That is the reason when crops fail and families become poor, the rate of child marriages also tend to go up.

While some reports also reveal that the parents believe that their daughter’s ‘circumstances’ would improve and she would be protected from the risk of rape.

But does the barbarism her body faces, after getting married, is less than being raped?

As their bodies’ remain under-developed, neither does their body support the process nor is able to bear the pain, while giving birth; which ultimately leads to death of the girl.

The most obvious and devastating truth of Early Pregnancy is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide for girls aged between 15 to 19 years.

Besides this, they suffer high risk of contracting HIV.  Due to getting married young, girls often face domestic violence, just because they have no say. Few are even deprived of 2 meals a day!

Now here, I want to ask their parents, what improved circumstances do they talk about?!

“Nobody was interested in my complaints, as I was legally a wife!” this is the torture a girl has to face, if she dares to protest.

And this is increasing in nations having dense population. According to UN Population Fund, higher rate of child marriages are in Sub-Saharan Africa. India known as the 'capital' of child marriage, holds a share of 40% of 60 million child marriage!

But the Ravan incident has sent shocking waves around the globe and more of awareness is spreading across. Reports reveal that many young wives have come forward for filing their divorce cases. There are also alarming calls on raising the legal age of marriage to 18.

Change is the new word. And I hope, that this Change is not just on papers... but, also show its move in the mind and culture of people!