Let me begin with the famous Quote ofMalcolm X ‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs tothose who prepare for it day’. Education is the main tool of developing humancapabilities and potentialities. It always plays significant role in shapingthe destiny of a state and its future generations. It is one of the human andfundamental rights listed in constitution of every nation. Education must be guaranteed and protectedfor all the people in all the situations, at all times. It is a right initself. It permits the full development, growth, improvement and prosperity ofall humans – aims that are especially pertinent in emergency situations.However, in emergencies, nations often encounter difficulties and facechallenges in guaranteeing and protecting human rights. Emergencies can disrupteducation for months together or even years implying children can miss out onvital learning and get deprived of a safer place to be when they are in verytraumatic situations like the one we are facing at present. Whenever andwherever such situation arise, education becomes the first casualty. Being acitizen of Kashmir we often experience emergency situations and at the same timewe find education becoming a casualty. We know education is the main weapon tofight social, economic and moral crisis, then how can we ignore it and not payour attention towards the educational system. It is high time to ponder and contemplate how we can continue educationof our wards during these critical situations. We cannot turn our gaze in suchsituations while at the same time claiming of running our education system atpar with the world.
Today we are facing Corona Virus. Alleducational institutions are closed for precautionary reasons. Does that meanwe stop to read, write and learn; if a student cannot go to school foreducation, let us bring education to his home. We are living in 21st century,so nothing is impossible. Yes, I know it is a little difficult for us to bringeducation home but not impossible, actually we are not habitual of learningthrough other means, but now it is the right time to change our mode ofeducation, why?, well we all know why.
In such times we should give preference toalternative mode of education that is home schooling. Keeping in view thecurrent situation we must prefer home schooling means/mode of education whereour elder ones (Parents, Grandparents, Uncles, Siblings etc.) shall play therole of teachers. Besides this, we must also think of others means for ourchildren in order to educate them. We know we are in digital era and technologyis playing vital role in education. Whether it is internet or Information andComputer Technology (ICT) related things, education has touched new heights.ICT has brought a paradigm shift in education. In education everything islinked with ICTs, be it directly or indirectly. Nowadays we use ICTs as analternative for education particularly when formal and face to face interactionsare not possible.
Today situation has arisen when teacher andpupil are not in schools for formal schooling due to the horrible Corona virus(declared pandemic by WHO). Now it is the right time tocome on digital education platform. It is the proper time to bring and utilizeICTs in the field of education. By ICTs we provide education to our futuregeneration in effective and meaningful ways. E- Learning, online learning andE-tutorials should be provided to pupil. It is the time to use social networkfor positive things. It is the time to use whatsapp groups to share E-materials and E- modules. It is the time to use Facebook to share importantlinks for the education purposes and discuss the same. It is the time to useYouTube for educational purposes. It is the time to use internet in meaningful,useful and effective ways, but all this needs high speed internet which isunfortunately unavailable to us in current times. Govt. should start Gyan Vaniand Gyan Dharshan like programmes to support students as earliest as possible.Besides, there are other things which teachers should keep in mind that is theyshould provide home assignments to their students so that they can learn andwork in a proper direction. Elders at home should teach, guide and help theirwards at home so that they may not suffer in learning.
To conclude, I hereby suggest to utilizethe facilities when there is no disturbance, when you are directed to stay athome, when you are safe at home and when no one can come to disturb you but thecondition is you must be willing to learn.
Let us pray to Almighty Allah to prevententire humanity from this deadly viruses.
Mehraj ud Din Bhat is a Research Scholar,Department of Education, University of Kashmir