New Delhi: The education system has been widely affected amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is trying to accomplish this through online education but experts believe that online platforms can never become an alternative to regular schooling.
In a webinar organized by the Right to Education Forum on Thursday, all experts shared their opinions and agreed that the government needs to do additional work on education and health sectors for which increasing budgetary allocation is important.
Experts also believe that children below the age of six needs special attention during the lockdown.
National convener of the Right to Education Forum, Ambarish Rai, says that by the age of 6, 75% of the brain of children develops. Therefore, at this age special attention needs to be paid to their education and all-round development.
There is a need to launch a nationwide campaign for children's health, education and nutrition rights and for this, the government should increase the budget of education and health in the public sector.
UNICEF representative and expert Sunisha Ahuja says that in the difficult times of the Corona crisis, we are talking on the rights of children below 6 years because they are the future of the country.
Sunisha Ahuja said that the number of malnourished children is increasing in large numbers due to the non-growth monitoring of children and every day 1000-1500 children are dying due to malnutrition which is a terrible condition.
Professor Venita Kaul at Ambedkar University, Delhi believes that the all-round development of children is necessary to become self-reliant. Today, the matter of online education is becoming loud and people are assuming that the parents will be sitting together and guiding the children, but they cannot replace the teacher even though they are the first teachers.
Online education has also brought parents under pressure. Lack of basic amenities in the rural area has led the wider population out of this platform of education.
Professor Rekha Sharma at IGNOU University says that people need to understand the difference between online education and distance education. No matter how advanced the online platforms are technical, they cannot be a substitute for regular schooling.
Alliances for Right to EDC convener Sumitra Mishra says that it is very important to look into whether the overall development of children aged 6 years and below is not affected during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The lockdown announced in March has led to several announcements by the government so far, but nothing special has been done keeping the children of this age in mind. This needs to be considered seriously and are the governments fulfilling their responsibilities in society?
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