COVID-19 AND EDUCATION IN MIZORAM

By C.Lalnunhlimi, B.Com 2nd Semester

Govt. J.Buana College, Lunglei

This is the first pandemic that you are experiencing on the journey to, or while entering,
adulthood. Lockdown after lockdown. Closures of school. Bad news fill the bulletins. A new
normal has been created across the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted one year and counting and half of the world’s students
have lost the opportunity of classroom learning as an impact of school closures. In India,
particularly, teaching has been confined to classrooms. The effectiveness and efficiency of
education has always been dependent on the close link between a teacher and a student. The
pandemic has caught everyone in the circle of education off guard. For professionals, it has
been an easy transition as most of them work using electronic devices even in office.
Students on the other hand have had to make bigger adjustments within the curriculum as
learning has always been in classrooms. The pandemic has forced every students of the
society to be well-equipped with technological tools foe online learning.

The shift from offline to online learning is the most significant outcome of COVID-19 on
education. In the context of Mizoram, disruption of education as a result of temporary
school closures has unprecedented implications. The worse-affected educational stage is the
primary education. COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious threats for children who are still
in the stage of learning basic concepts and foundation. Primary school teachers in Mizoram
initiated online teaching through smartphone applications such as Whatsapp and Google
classroom. Students of primary education are given home assignments by means of
Whatsapp and e-mail. Lessons are being taught through Youtube, teacher-made videos and
local television channels. However, despite such adjustments, online learning cannot be
availed by all the primary school students of Mizoram. In addition to this problem,
elementary students who are in the lower age range do not have personal technological
devices, so it is the parents and guardians who have to guide and perform most of the
assignments and tasks.

The other educational stages, from middle to university level, training and technical courses
always adopted formal system of education. The offspring of COVID-19 pandemic, state-
wide lockdown has halted the on-going system of education. Middle school and high school
students have been forced to opt for online learning. Students in these age group are able to
handle electronic devices by themselves and can use them at ease. As such, online lectures
can be conducted through Video conferencing tools like Zoom meeting, Webex, Google
meet, etc. At the university level, students are able to experiment and deploy this new era of
education. University students are way more flexible as compared to primary students. Most
of them possess personal electronic devices and can also use them without parental
guidance. Technical courses and vocaltional education suffered a great loss at the hands of
the pandemic. Examinations such as JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) and NEET (National
Eligibility cum Entrance Test) which are held annually for engineering and medical courses
respectively has been postponed continuously. Despite the Central Government and State
Government elaborate effort to conduct them by following safety protocols, students still
has problems regarding travelling to examination centres.

This pandemic has compelled the adoption of digital technology to deliver education. The
implementation of technology in education curriculum has resulted in the shift from teacher-
centred pedagogy to learner-centres pedagogy. The new era of education has made
management of schools and institutions more time and cost saving while fulfilling its
purpose effectively. Digitalized education has made learning scenario more transparent and
does not allow any prejudice towards students. The new normal has quantified the quality of
education with foundation in Information Technology and faculties who are accustomed to
online teaching. Moreover, quality of education has depended less on the impact of physical
infrastructure of institutions.

Mizoram has been coping remarkably with the drastic shift from offline learning to online
learning. Despite the fact that Mizoram was one of the first states in India to impose
lockdown and school closures, joint efforts between teachers, government officials and
students have made e-education a possibility. The state government as well as private parties
have regularly published their ideas on various initiatives to curb the problems faced by
students during COVID-19 pandemic. Five or ten years prior to the pandemic, this shift
would have been impossible due to lack of internet accessibility. However, today’s internet
facilities has made e-education a reality. Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) has
recently published the results for high school and higher secondary school examinations
without any serious hurdle. While other states of India have completely cancelled Board
exams. Primary and middle school students have been promoted to higher classes too by
using year-round assignment and online tests marks as the basis for promotion. University
students also completed their semester exams through online mode tests and assigment
marks. Mizoram students did not lose any academic year as a consequence of COVID-19
pandemic.

In spite of such accomplishments, it is evident that this pandemic has created ‘digital divide’
between the rich and the poor. Internet may not be accessible in all parts of Mizoram. News
has sparked recently that students of Pukzing Vengthar village in Mamit district travelled
more than three kilometres daily to get internet connectivity so that they can study. Seven
Undergraduate students in a village in Siaha district also trekked on a hilltop to give their
semester exams. Besides the technical issues, COVID-19 pandemic has bred out another
issue of lack of attention and sincerity from students towards their studies, reduced
motivation and difficulty to maintain discipline and control of class through online modes.
Students may also suffer mental disorders such as anxiety and depression as a result of
being stuck in one’s house for months. The most fruitful, enjoyable and memorable days are
being snatched away by this pandemic. Senior teachers are facing many difficulties
particularly in adapting to the online modes and procedures.

The situation may look grim but all is not lost. The joint efforts of the state government
along with the teachers and students of every school and their parents as well has mase the
impossible possible. Regardless of the rising infection rate in Mizoram, the recovery rate of
COVID-19 patients if increasing likewise. Mizoram is slowly moving into this new era of
education, e-education. At this point of time, teachers at every education level are giving
their utmost best by means of online learning to connect with the students.
The current system has been an emergency response to the pandemic and more
improvement is underway. The teachers as well as students are in a stage of experimenting
and trying new ways. One thing is for sure that online education is growing and it is going
to stay for awhile. Therefore, everyone should focus all of our energy, not on old problems
but on building new solutions.