ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS ON STUDENTS DUE TO COVID RELATED LOCKDOWN CONDITIONS & ALSO ON THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS

SUNSHINE CAN HAPPEN ONLY WHEN WE GIVE RIGHT EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN

ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS  ON STUDENTS DUE TO COVID RELATED LOCKDOWN CONDITIONS & ALSO ON THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS

In essence, the adverse on the student community especially on the children below the age of thirteen is too much. The adverse implications are covered in the succeeding paragraphs.

ONLINE TEACHING & ITS ADVERSE IMPLICATION

Alternative mechanism of teaching (Online teaching) has perforce enhanced the screen-time activity of the students which have not only impaired their eyesight but also impacted their overall health. Due to this, we have seen frequent visits of parents with their children not only to the eye specialists besides General Physicians for physiological (by following unhealthy diet) or physiological (sometimes leading to self injury by the children) problems with their children for getting their children checked. The condition of many of children is really pathetic. All this is happening due to lockdowns owing to COVID 19 pandemic situations.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE CHILDREN

Exposure to virtual online classes of children impacts not merely the overall health of the students but also causing mental health problems. The persistent digital age impacts on the impressionable minds, especially teenage children, is really severe to say the least. The screen time exposure for more than six hours on daily basis is impactful.

MISUSE OF INTERNET MEDIA BY SOME UNSCRUPLOUS ELEMENTS

In essence, it is also a considered fact that teenagers are vulnerable ones in many ways. If the online classes by the teaching staff is only a consideration, then, it is acceptable but it when it includes physical and mental implications due to the misuse of internet media. This net connectivity and its use should be under the supervision of parents. Those parents who just leave their children with the online media, should introspect about the adverse implications their children could be subjected to. By misuse, it means, excessive use of net connectivity not merely for online studies but also to pay particular attention to other Apps such as games, violence related videos, to view apps dealing with obscenity or nude or semi nude scenes. These will have adverse impact on the vulnerable mindset of the children, especially the children teens.

ONLINE CLASSES & OBSCENE CLIPPINGS

One of the parents (who is a father of a 13 years teenager), related me about some obscene clips being uploaded by some unscrupulous or ill disciplined elements amongst the students or some outsiders too! He advised his teenager to ignore such ill intention ed clips. This creates a paradox of highest proportion for the parents of children with age group between 11 to 16 years of age. I am of the opinion that the parents should discretely keep their hawk probing eyes on their online classes.

NON-ATTENDANCE OF PARENTS WHILE ONLINE STUDIES IS ON

But those parents who cannot devote much time due to their preoccupation with their jobs or businesses should, of necessity, should set aside adequate time to supervise their online classes lest unhindered following of screen time on net-connectivity and other medias could impact their children physically and mentally. Leaving the vulnerable children to the mercy of predators in the society can have negative implication on the children.

ASSESSING OTHER MEDIAS WHILE PURSUING ONLINE STUDIES THROUGH ANDROID MOBILES

It has been observed that 80% of the children while pursuing their online classes do assess internet, gaming, chatting, videos depicting aggression, nude or semi nude clippings, etc. could be counterproductive. By letting these things prevail, we shall be leaving our children at the mercy of marauders thus putting the lives of the future of our next generation at the mercy of dreadful elements. While saner voices should vouch say that only saviour albeit plausible alternative left for us all is the formal schooling, in essence, is the need of the hour, with no ifs and buts.

TOO MUCH INDULGENCE ON DIGITAL MEDIA LEADS TO LETHARGY AND OBESITY PROBLEMS

While too much exposure or remaining hooked onto digital media sites leads to traits of lethargy and weariness leading to over weight (obesity) due to eating disorders when children take in junk foods. With no exercise, such children develop stress related ailments too.

PARENTS NOT GIVING QUALITY TIME TO THEIR WARDS

In the absence of giving quality time to their offspring, the real time interaction with the parents and other members of their family is not possible, therefore, such children get cut off from the parents etc.

WITH NO FORMAL SCHOOLING THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS PURSUITS LOWERING

All social networking through various media and no formal schooling can lower the educational attainments or pursuits. It has been seen that while pursuing online classes, it is not easy to pursue meaningful education with this method of teaching since doubts persisting in their minds of young minds remain haunting them which could meaningfully be done through formal education in schools only.

ILL-INTENTIONED INDIVIDUALS TAKING UNDUE ADVANTAGE

Too much of social working with no formal schooling can encourage the ill intentioned individuals thus leaving the children at the mercy of elements. The teenage children could also fall prey to sexual predator who are always on the look out for such victims. Then the question of cyber bulling too is having its adverse implication.

FORMAL SCHOOLING SUFFERING DUE TO TOO MUCH EXPOSTURE TO ONLINE CLASSES

From the above it is evident that giving too much credence to online classes while formal schooling could go a long way in ushering in holistic education to our children then why not do everything to do everything within our control so that our children are given education in formal institutions.

FORMAL EDUCATION IN FORMAL INSTITUTIONS

The role of education by formal schooling cannot be over emphasized. It has been well said that the teachers are the molders of the destinies of students, It is the school only wherein the education is imparted by the teachers formally who due to their expertise and experience exert their best in order to give them the right education.

John F Kennedy has rightly emphasized that children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for future. They are the future citizens who would be our leaders, engineers, doctors, scientists, the saviour of our country etc. And in this, teachers are the best architects who lay the solid foundation for a strong structure so that such a building could withstand any storm or any nature’s fury. Similar is the case of teachers who build a strong character of his/her students so that he/she faces any challenge which life throws on him/her.

OUR ALMA MATERS SHOULD HAVE APPROPRIATE AMBIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

The purpose of teachers could best be realized if suitable environment and appropriate ambience is created by the school management/owner of the school. The best Alma Mater is the one which meets all the conditions that is it has well stocked labs, has safe buildings for schooling, good seating arrangements, well ventilated, airy rooms with appropriate lighting arrangement, air condition room, if possible etc.

In order to make the Alma Mater a good place for educational pursuits, it is essential to take into account the expenditure incurred by the school management on construction of new buildings, renovate the old ones, carry out white washing of the walls periodically in addition to it all, taking care of greenery in the vicinity of school, appropriate sewerage system, water harvesting plant etc. The school too should have playing ground for the student with all the equipment and all needed playing kits and paraphernalia.

It is also essential that the school meets the safety parameters such as Fire Safety hazards, have good pool of transportation system for the students along with trained conductors and drivers with adequate experience in their trades.

CONSTRAINTS OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENTS/ SCHOOL OWNERS

All are aware that for the school to meet all the constraints, it is necessary that the owner/school management spends money for constructing the building first, then maintain it, sometimes add new building or reconstruct the other one. Then ensure that library is well stocked and maintained with current books including books on general knowledge etc.

We all are aware that for constructing the building initially, maintaining the same and refurbishing the same with good furniture etc. regular flow of funds are required. This comes from the students’ tuition fees only. If the students do not come to the school on regular basis and do not pay their fees on regular basis then from where the funds will come to meet the following expenditures.

(a) Construction of building initially, the owner may have taken loan from banks or from any other source for its construction. From where he would be paying the money so taken on loan if he is not getting tuition fees etc. from the students when the parents do not send their wards to the schools? There is no alternative but to feel hugely disappointed with anxieties write large as to how to pay back the loaned money along with the interest accrued on the principal amount! Sometimes, the owner may be forced to take recourse to ultimate decision of taking his own life.

(b) Continuous flow of funds is needed for meeting the expenditure on power bill, building renovation, expenditure on purchase of computers and transport or carry out the repairs as and when needed etc. If no payment is there from the students then from where he would be getting the requisite amount?

(c) The school staff besides watch and ward staff etc. are required to be given their monthly salaries on regular basis, therefore, it is essential that the students pay their tuition fees regularly. If the parents do not send their wards to the school on regular basis and do not pay the tuition fees along with maintenance allowance etc. then from where the school management would get succour.

(d) When there is no source of income from any source, then, on whom the school managements or owners could bank on. It is either Almighty God or our Hon’ble Courts.

(e) With Damocles sword of compliance with Rules DSSR 1973 and other rules of education authorities, the school management is constrained to spend funds from their reserve funds to maintain the modicum of standard operating procedure for infra development etc. otherwise lose recognition. With no source of funds except tuition fees, which too is not being paid by the parents since they are reluctant to send their wards to the school, the school management is left in the lurch.
(f) In order to save the interests of the private unaided schools, it is paramount that all out efforts should be made by all concerned (Government, parents and school staff) and save the private from permanent closure owing to lack of funds either for payment of salaries to the staff or maintenance of the school infra.(g) Parents, teachers and the school management should sit together to find a plausible solution to all the problems so that the differences are ironed out amicably, the sooner it is done the better otherwise it would be too late.