See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/362279601

COVID-19 AND RURAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: CHALLENGES AND

IMPACT

Article · July 2022

CITATIONS READS

0 3,070

1 author:

Akanksha Choudhary
Manipal University Jaipur
15 PUBLICATIONS 1 CITATION

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Akanksha Choudhary on 27 July 2022.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

COVID-19
PANDEMIC
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Edited by

Dr. Mohd. Arif | Dr. Wasif Ali | Dr. K K Shukla

Faculty of Commerce, Shri Jai Narain Misra PG College
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Bharti Publications
New Delhi- 110002 (INDIA)
Copyright © Editors,

Title: Covid-19, Pandemic: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues

Edited by: Dr. Mohd. Arif | Dr. Wasif Ali | Dr. K K Shukla
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any from or by any
means, without permission. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

First Published, June, 2022

ISBN: 978-93-94779-02-0
Published by:
Bharti Publications
4819/24, 2nd Floor, Mathur Lane
Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002
Phone: 011-23247537, 46172797, 989-989-7381
E-mail: bhartipublications@gmail.com
Website: www.bhartipublications.com

Printed in India, by: Sagar Color Scan, Delhi

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the book are of the authors and not necessarily of the publisher and
editors. Editors themselves are responsible for any kind of Plagiarism found in book and any related
issues found with the book.
 Contents

1. COVID 19 and its Impact on Agri Business Management: Coping up Strategies 1-8
Dr. Shraddha Purandare & Prof. Manjiri Joshi
2. Aftermatch of the Pandemic: Rise of Influencer Marketing 9-14
Dr. Malini Majumdar
3. Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industry During Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic 15-20
Chandni Sharma and S N Jha
4. Employee Cost and Perception: Exploring the relationship between organization 21-38
and Employees during Pandemic
Shalini Shukla and Ram Singh
5. Economic Impact of Covid-19 in India and its State 39-53
Dr. Hilal Ahmad
6. Effect of Covid-19 Poverty and Unemployment 54-61
Dr. Sabir Navas CM and Ramees PK
7. Impact of COVID -19 on E-Commerce Companies - Amazon and Flipkart 62-68
Dr. Geetika Tandon Kapoor and Nidhi Singh
8. Customer’s Perception towards Digital Banking Services in Sikkim During Covid-19 Pandemic 69-77
Dr. Pramesh Chettri
9. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Employment and Livelihoods of Indian Women 78-90
Dr. Alpana Lal
10. An Empirical Study on Consumers’ Perception towards usage of Digital Payment Systems 91-100
in Lucknow City in Post COVID Era
Dr. Vibhuti Shivam Dube and Dr. Alok Johari
11. A pragmatic study on profitability analysis of Aviation industry during Covid-19- A 100-107
comparative study of Air IndiGo and SpiceJet
Eeshita Goyal
12. Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during Post Covid Era: 108-116
A Bird's Eye View
Dr. R. Uma Devi
13. Covid-19 and Global Supply Chain Disruptions 117-121
Dr. Dolly Misra and Dr. Sanjeev Gupta
14. An investigation of the COVID-19 Crisis on Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises 122-132
Dr. Seema Tripathi
15. Corporate Governmence During Covid-19 Pandemic in India 133-142
Sanjoli Kedia and Dr. Arun Kumar Shukla
16. Covid19 versus Unemployment and Income Inequality in India 143-149
Pawan Kumar
17. Covid-19 And Its Effect On Digital Marketing 150-158
Dr Anuranjita Dixit
18 Psychological Well-Being and Work-Life Balance among IT employees 159-164
Dr. Tessla Arakal*
19. Factors Influencing Individuals Mental Wellbeing due to Covid-19 Pandemic 165-173
Thota Prameela and Dr. Salini Rosaline
20. Reverberations of COVID-19 on Lifestyle of Students: A Case study of SRM University 174-184
Ms. Sakshi Ahlawat and Dr. Upendra Pratap Singh
21. Managing Stress During the Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic 185-192
Prof. Manjiri Joshi and Dr. Shraddha Purandare
22. Role of Ayushman Bharat For Taking Care of Beneficiaries in Covid-19 Pandemic 193-202
R.Renukadevi
23. A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study of Saving and Investment Pattern on the Quality 203-215
of Human Life During COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr Balwant Kumar Bari
24. Accessing healthcare facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic: Preferences and 216-223
the Challenges
Dr. Krishnan Kutty. V
25. Impact of COVID-19 on Employees’ Mental Health: A Systematic Literature Review 224-229
Dr Neetu Rani, Mansi Makkar & Rosy Dhall
26. Impacts on Eating Habit During Covid-19 Lockdown in thoothukudi of Tamilnadu 230-237
Dr. D.Amutha
27. Impact of COVID-19 on College Students of Lucknow 238-243
Dr. Preeti Gupta and Manjulika Gautam
28. Covid-19: Juriprudential Aspect of Human Rights Voilation during Pandamic 244-251
Dr. Mahendra Kumar Baishya and Nainci Gupta
29. Impact of Global Pandemic Covid-19 on Indian Education System 252-258
Dr. Manjusha Awasthi
30. Covid-19 Pandemic and the Indian Education Sector 259-265
Baleshwar Prasad
31. Covid-19 and Education Sector in reference to e-learning 266-273
Vishal Garg
32. Covid-19 and Rural Education in India: Challenges and Impact 274-284
Akanksha Choudhary and Dr. Poonam Mishra
33. Covid-19 and Medical Wastage 285-294
Anindya Bhattacharyya and Tanaya Das
34. Environmental Effects of Covid-19 on Wellbeing 295-301
Trishala.M and Dr.Amreen Fathima
35. Impact of Covid-19 on Environment: Current Trends and Potential Stratigies 302-309
Rahul and Afreen Rizvi
36. Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic, on Beekeeping and Pollination of Different Crops 310-315
in Different Indian States
Amber Rana and Barish E James
 CHAPTER 32
COVID-19 AND RURAL EDUCATION IN INDIA:
CHALLENGES AND IMPACT

Akanksha Choudhary* and Dr. Poonam Mishra**

ABSTRACT
Change is the only constant factor in all the forces of life. COVID 19 brought the same change in
working, living, and implementing ideas as everyone was doing for the last some years. Education
in India needed a stir too, especially in the education field of rural India which was substantially
overburdened with a lot of stereotypes and social norms but was negotiated with awareness campaigns
and steps taken by various organizations to make primary education compulsory for everyone.
However, the Pandemic COVID 19 has been the biggest halt of the century, every sector and Global
economy was shut for a very long time, resulting in the dropdown in the overall growth. Education in
India experienced the same jerk as other sectors, whereas urban schools managed to continue online
classes, attendance of Rural students minimized rapidly. The biggest challenge was to channelize
online education in remote India, as continuing education is the right of every student which should
not be interrupted by anything.
This research intends to highlight the challenges faced by the rural primary and secondary education
sector, during the pandemic with its impact over time. Including a detailed SWOT analysis of the
available and upcoming opportunities analyzed with suggestive changes required in the field of rural
education. As COVID 19 spillover for the education industry has resulted in expeditious technological
growth which is also discussed in detail in this research.
Keywords: Education, Indian education system, COVID 19, online Education, Government of India

* Research Scholar, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur-Ajmer Express Highway, Dehmi Kalan, Near GVK Toll Plaza,
Jaipur, Rajasthan
** Assistant Professor, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur-Ajmer Express Highway, Dehmi Kalan, Near GVK Toll
Plaza, Jaipur, Rajasthan
 Covid-19 and Rural Education in India: Challenges and Impact 275
INTRODUCTION
The onset of the year 2020 was marked by a worldwide threatening virus, discovered in China.
The virus spread accounted for so many deaths all over the world, which remains uncontrolled.
Developed and developing economies both are researching on the cure while the maximum
damaging phases are passed when the number of cases was hiking at multiplying rates. The
spread caused several countries to install a series of lockdowns, several sectors were closed while
the medical services were struggling. To protect people, India incorporated a lockdown in March.
Shutting down major sectoral earnings factories and offices. Yet another threat was to incorporate
safety measures for mass gathering especially for children i.e., schools and colleges. The peak
timing for all the session beginning and final exams was jeopardized as there were no other
possibilities. The problems were not confined as they grew with concerning measure. Dropping
down the mass gathering triggered other socio-economic issues such as unemployment and
hunger. The minimum wage workers along with daily wagers were dying not to cause of disease
but they were hunger struck. Being a widely populated country, one measure cannot be anyway
enough, it is not possible to control the spillover when the recipients are this many. Leakages were
drooling as people were migrating from cities, back to their native villages. Rural India, yet devoid
of transportation, food, education was the safest place to live while the pandemic was growing
day by day in the urban areas.
India witnesses a huge gap balancing the rural and urban development as not just in one but in
several areas taking from necessities villages of India still lags. The mere requirement of national
development needs a holistic approach, which was unveiled during the COVID time. Talking
about the rural-urban gap, Indian education seems to do well verse as when it comes to literacy,
expenses incurred at the household level, accessibility to technology, etc. keeps village students
devoid as much as data showing 4% of rural households had access to computers compared with
23% of urban household between July 2017 and June 2018. (Education in Time of Covid: Pandemic
Amplifies Rural-Urban Digital Divide - The Financial Express, 2020). A 2020 study by the Ministry
of Human Resources (MHRD) found that the learning of about 240 million children who were
enrolled in the school got severely affected amid COVID 19. A study by NCERT reflects data of
about 27% of all the enrolled students did not have laptops/computers or smartphones to attend
the virtual classroom or education. (Padhi Balakrushna; & Lalhriatchiani). The empirical evidence
is not the only proof, child labor increased as an ill effect resulting in school dropouts. This time
has taken the future of several aspiring students into the drain. Once stopped due to personal
problems it is very tough to get back into studies, not in the Indian villages. The family size decides
how much kids can afford to go to school while the other will manage to earn daily bread. This is
reality that was faced by several vendors on city road who left their family in villages for earning
and sending money.
Studies and report show effective eLearning create an edge out of traditional method which is
resulting in children’s interest and easy teaching habits. Whereas it is quite known that electronic
media like WhatsApp and Telegram have also helped to share bulk data, notes, and presentations
that were taught in class. The system running towards efficiency has now drastically changed
facing easy ways of evaluation, examination, and tutoring.
Intense change has been seen in education pedagogy that invented hit and trial method for
innovative teaching and learning approach, promising the flexibility, and learning environment
276 COVID-19 Pandemic: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues
is just icing on the cake. UGC and MHRD have launched many virtual platforms with online
depositories, e-books, and other online teaching materials. Combining electronic media with
education was a big hit during this time even those who cannot afford to have smartphones can
take advantage of distance learning to some extent. (JENA, 2020)
Rural India has adjusted for minimum since a long ago now, taking from roads and infrastructure
building things have been happening a little late. Education is another area where village students
try to combat their minimum level of education. There are very few schools that provide basic
infrastructure and teaching facilities to these children. Aspirants who intend to study paves their
way to better education, rest stays in the dark areas of intellect. The maximum population of the
village takes birth and dies in the same periphery providing the same piece of land to their next
generation.
Traditional/conventional living has only been an option for the Indian rural population. Accepting
the policy for health and education as the ruling party not only neglect the survival of rural India
but also banishes the fund allotted for the upliftment. Education is another such area that often
reflects ill-equipped infrastructure, lack of faculty and books, reading material availability. No
rural household can afford the high-paced flow of educational expenditure as that of urban areas
resulting increase in dropout rates.
All developed countries have mastered their sectoral problems and have found the solution to
provide better facilities for problems like these yet being a developing nation India needs to shed
its focus on marginalized populations provided with the proper set of knowledge and equipment
required. The ASER 2019 report ease the imbalance of education in rural India comparing it with
an urban scenario where the school baggage of student cost as the annual fees of a rural student,
highlights only 16% of children in class 1 in 26 surveyed rural districts can read the text at the
prescribed level, while almost 40% cannot even recognize letters. (ASER Centre).
With COVID 19 world is introduced to alternatives that were never used before, generations
have never seen this paradigm shift in working areas and economic sectors. Education has also
undergone a huge shift to online classes and several possible ways that can forego the major
challenges not only temporarily but also permanently. This is almost 9 months since the lockdown.
Schools and colleges are running online, clearing the evaluation and examination procedure,
students are promoting to the next level with smooth learning and enjoyment.
The problem here is the undying gap between urban and rural India. As the right to education
clearly states the importance of free and compulsory education. India being among 135 countries
maintaining the educational rights for children, still faces problem to preach the students who
aspire to study but are unable due to lack of awareness, equipment’s, conditions, financial
situation, etc. by applying the techniques such as google classrooms, DISHA initiatives, etc. (Jena,
2020) all are helping in a new direction of educational flow it is now required to understand this
flow of education and to maintain a system that can effectively reach to those who are gaping the
paths with the hope that education and knowledge can flourish their lives and living conditions.
OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
1. to examine the aftereffects of lockdown on rural education
2. to assess the impact of educational planning among rural education patterns
3. to conduct a SWOT analysis for the paradigm shift in the online pedagogy
 Covid-19 and Rural Education in India: Challenges and Impact 277
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This is exploratory research based majorly on the ex post facto content analysis and secondary data,
media articles, etc. in detail. This study typically analyses the available literature and secondary
data available on the education system.
Impact of Lockdown
According to UNESCO, approximately 0.32 billion students in India have been affected by school
closure due to the pandemic COVID 19. Out of these 84% reside in rural areas while 70% are from
government schools. (Alvi & Gupta, 2020)
Although the coronavirus was an inevitable condition that had no other way to combat it than to
shut down, even when the census releases the dropouts lists every year. Indian villages attain a
higher percentage of dropouts than usual and other countries. Problems such as unemployment,
poverty, lack of infrastructural facilities, and lower performance lead to high dropout rates.
Children feel less motivated and often neglect the importance of studies. Comparing the response
of Rural and Urban students’ annual reports, most children drop out after 8th class with their
first attempts of examination. Lack of education is one of the major reasons for widening the gap
between rich and poor strata of society. It is the economic cycle that works as a multiplier effect.
While a study confirms the ratio of urban-rural enrollment in schools is nearly differs from 7:5
which is 60% of students in rural areas, lack of basic reading skills, Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) from
32 in 2009-10 to 24 in 2015-16, single teacher schools continue to be a major concern in rural parts
of the country. (Kavishwar Ajay, 2018)
Whereas these conditions were alleviated due to stillness and a higher number of migrant workers
moving back to villages with no options.
As an ex post facto research, this study highly focuses on the aftermath of lockdown but the
conditions in the villages were as normal as before the onset of the pandemic. The closure impacted
the situation in just a normal manner as there were schools before the pandemic that were devoid
of teachers, headmasters, and other necessary staff members on regular basis. Recent research
highlights the number of single teachers available in government schools is near to 97,273 who are
working single-handedly contributing to graduating rural students. These are not just obstacles
they lead to poor quality of education that degrades the interests of students and contributes to
high dropout rates in rural schools – nearly 50% by the age of 14. The amount of study was just
an on-paper formality as the truth of some places were reflected with the impactful impairment of
knowledge of those students who are enrolled in the school. Barely 47% of class 5 school children
could read a grade – 2 textbooks. One of the major reasons behind this is the lack of qualitative
education. Infrastructural gap such as electricity, water, sanitation, books, library, notes, etc. all
integrates to become a bigger problem with upcoming days. (Alvi & Gupta, 2020)
The period of closure is still prevailing with n number of online replacements. Teachers and
students are communicating through WhatsApp while teaching through google classroom,
zoom, etc. to address the challenges of remote learning MHRD has undertaken several initiatives
in association with the state government to assist students, scholars, teachers ad learners in
the pursuit of education and disrupted knowledge. The initiatives are highly inclined towards
preaching online classes on regular basis, with eBooks, depository, and e-materials for learning.
Evaluations and assessments took place with the help of Quizzes and projects. An estimation of
278 COVID-19 Pandemic: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues
25 crore beneficiaries was targeted with digital/online/on-air education to enable equitable multi-
mode access to education. (Education Report, 2020)
The use of digitalization and technology on toes can help in mitigating the current challenge of
delivering education to rural India, equipped with multimedia teaching tools, interesting and
fun learning methods. There were several challenges with comprehending the tech - know-how,
which teachers and students had newly encounter, but with an optimistic note of making India a
hi-tech hub, it is required to indulge these practices in a very effective and reachable manner. A
complete revolution has been indulged in the conventional ways of Guru Shishya teaching which
were years old. New equipment and technology will impart world-class education, it is enjoyable
and more practical.
A great number of government initiatives have triggered the onset and installation of online
education practices among rural areas of India, states such as Mizoram, West Bengal, and Kashmir
have implemented daily televised lectures as the Human resource development Ministry ties up
with television services to allocate specific channels. (Alvi & Gupta, 2020)
With an upward shift in the education sector, online education experienced booming income
sources. This was expected earlier in 2016, as the research mentions government plan to invest in
distance online education. Need being the reason for discoveries, COVID has led Indian education
to find its way out of online resources that were considered waste before. India is expected to have
the world’s largest tertiary age population and second-largest graduate talent to grow globally.
(Jha & Shenoy, 2016)
Though the severe situational back lock has negatively impacted the international economic
conditions, international online ties have seen an upward rise. Higher educational conferences
and workshops have been gaining much popularity over topics like sustainable development
goals, environment security, etc.
The rural education here seems to lag as the reason being low participant rate and awareness of
important impacts of these initiatives. Rather things have been creating a shift in online mode as
well. When technology is talked about, only 15% of rural households had access to the internet
compared to urban households. While governmental initiatives have provided free broadband
services to some parts of villages a lot needs to be covered more. With regards to free education,
62% of students were receiving it at the primary level- in 72% of rural India.
Government of India Initiatives:
With the beginning of rapid COVID cases in India, a one-day nationwide curfew was observed
followed by series of Lockdowns that in turn closed all the gates of public places that are still
seen in the phases of unlocking of India. Almost all state governments have ordered schools and
colleges and other educational institutions to remain closed unless they see a hope of opening
with necessary guidelines and control over the unlashing cases.
The unavoidable break from necessary education was disrupted with the inclusion of several
Online applications, technical advancements using mobile phones, laptops, video conferencing,
live lecture series, etc. initiatives by IITs and open Universities have had helped in channeling
education through television and radio channels that were streamed widely with the collaboration
of MHRD. This was all necessary but temporary solutions unless no reliefs were seen in the deadly
situations of rising COVID cases. Now with the advancing series of online educational pedagogy,
 Covid-19 and Rural Education in India: Challenges and Impact 279
teachers are trained with taking online lecturers’ conduction of online FDP programs to make them
aware of the software through various government and private educational institutions. Rural
school students were provided online educations with the help of smartphones, and WhatsApp
groups. MOOC courses, ePathshala, e-Basta, etc. were some programs that encouraged the free
flow of education with lesser disturbances.
Programs incorporated by Government of India
DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for knowledge sharing)

Image source: India Report- Digital Education, June 2020

Diksha is a national platform for school education, an initiative of the national council DIKSHA
was developed on core principles of open architecture, open access, open licensing with diversity,
autonomy, and choice as outlined in the strategy and approach paper for the national teacher
platform released by the former Hon’ minister of Human Resource Development Shri Prakash
Javadekar in May 2017. A made in India portal which has been adopted by 35 states/UT’s across
as well as CBSE and NCERT and by many learners and teachers. This provides access to large
data available in the form of e-Content that is freely available and very helpful for Primary and
secondary education. As a part of the PM e Vidya program under Atma Nirbhar Bharat, this
DIKSHA platform counts as one nation one digital network, for school education in India.
280 COVID-19 Pandemic: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues
SWAYAM PRABHA TV channels
These DTH channels were meant to help those who do not have internet access, so students can
get live as well as recorded lessons on TV. 32 channels were devoted to telecasting HD educative
video lectures from time to time. Department of Education and Literacy also tied up with data
operating services like Tata Sky and Airtel to stream live channels connected with skype telecasting
interactive sessions for many school students. They have included NPTEL channels streaming
courses from IITs and IIMs, etc.
E- PathShala
A mobile app was made use of during the lockdown, which was available in several languages,
helped students to continue learning through data stored under this e-learning application. The
application installs houses, books, videos, audios, etc. aimed at students’ educators and parents.
In this web portal NCERT has deployed more than 1886 audios, 2000 videos, 700 eBooks, etc. this
mobile application is useful for students ranging from 1 to 12 standard with ready to learn the
material in hand for anywhere and everywhere use.
On Air
Radio broadcasting is being used for children in rural areas who cannot avail of the internet,
especially for primary students. The broadcasts focus on activity-based learning techniques that
helped them to create their knowledge in an applied manner. There were DTH channels that
helped hearing-impaired students with live lectures in sign languages.
Online Pedagogy – SWOT analysis
The pandemic and lockdown have surprisingly changed the most constant structure of education
in India, turning up classroom education into a digital platform were not easy in many ways.
People associated with education be it the ministry, education providers, including institutions,
students, etc. whereas the new pedagogy required a little training before its commencement, it
proved to be more practical than the classroom education. This is much focused on student’s
ability to understand, which grew towards being more focused because of the new system of
teaching and learning. Online pedagogical approach not just focused on practical learning but did
evolved the pattern of evaluation which are now shifted to more basic ways on intellect. This helps
enhancing the overall student’s brain and activity-based learning/evaluating is more convenient
when seen from a developmental point of view.
S- STRENGTHS
Need is the mother of invention, or there are ample ways to restart when one door is shut. The
opportunity that transforms us to use other and better way is always advance from which we have
grown. Online education is one such example. Lockdown due to pandemic led us to switch to a
better mode of communicating in a better and safe mode that is reducing many problems related
to energy consumption, mass wastages, etc. electricity use has reduced and so are many ill effects
that were seen due to mass gatherings on daily basis.
Rural Indian education has also seen a transformation
• Digitalization is a revolutionary process; it keeps on adding and upgrading the source and
education will be upgrading in its new forms of learning and impacting the lives of others.
 Covid-19 and Rural Education in India: Challenges and Impact 281
• It is more engaging: rather than just listening quietly in the classes, it triggers student to
participate and perform to earn evaluation grades
• Recorded lessons can be helpful for revision purposes
• There is a very vast scenario in Infront of us to develop the nation on digital grounds this will
increase the demand and in turn will readily create employment opportunities, revenue, and
inventions
• The rural-urban gap can be destroyed completely once the education will be equally effective
on both grounds.
W- WEAKNESS
The basic societal changes require huge support from the population of that place, which not only
supports the effects but also safeguards it in a better way. This is one of the major weaknesses of
rural education, the main emphasis could be seen in online education as well, a wherein private
institution, online activities took a permanent change leaving rural reality as it was. The live
lessons/classes have a very different impact online as compared to recorded videos and compiled
study materials.
The weaknesses of rural online education are major loopholes of the education system that are
carried in the system and management of the rural educational institutions.
• There is very little or irregular training available for teachers to handle online portals and
software, to use them effectively.
• Lack of basic requirements, proper availability of smartphones and laptops, internet
connectivity, electricity, space to study are not available for both student and teacher.
• For primary sections, it is very difficult for illiterate parents to access the software for their
children, now and then. It is also a challenge for them to recharge and avail internet for
everyone in the family.
• Several students were devoid of education in India because of not being able to afford the
equipment’s which has increased the dropout rates in rural areas.
• Irregular study pattern has reduced the child’s interest in studies that in turn is reducing the
enrollment rates as well.
• Schools and educational institutions are failing to manage the online curriculum and new
strategies to evaluate student’s performances.
O- OPPORTUNITY
A change is always for good, COVID has brought a revolution in many fields and one such field
is online education. The Indian education system has been holding its roots since long back but
online has changed many associated disadvantages to it. Resulting in an effective learning design,
although there are miles to go.
• Online education and evaluation are more practical as it was never. Teachers are obliged to
take up classes’ online mode, with practical learning opportunities, presentations, and role
plays is one of the best ways to study the applications of the theory.
• Tutors and educationists are now challenging themselves to become more and more creative
so that students can find studies interesting.
282 COVID-19 Pandemic: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues
• There is an opportunity to transform the curriculum based on more effective ways of
evaluation, a digital basis.
• With every rural student getting tech-friendly, it will advance the country from roots. The
developmental growth can see new hope coming.
• There is no way to take up higher education by remaining at home, which is much less
investment than to be afforded by rural parents.
• Educational programs like NPTEL, IGNOU, etc. can give more classes related to tech
advancement that can train students and farmers to take up easy and refined ways.
• There is immense opportunity to take up online education on education on the next level, can
come with a permanent solution for many financial programs that marginalize family goes
through.
• The government can take up more effective measures to advance, equip villages with better
infrastructure, cyber cafes, etc. better equipment support, scholarships, etc.
T- THREATS
Everything has an advantage and disadvantage pattern but how the opportunity can turn up in
the future is worth analyzing beforehand. Quarantine and isolation have made people paranoid to
stay social more than it was in a normal situation. Not in just villages but urban areas are suffering
from the same. On the contrary of which online education has taken away all the fun that children
used to have in school.
Threats that can be seen after the online education pattern can be:
• Health issues, prevailing in small children.
• Lack of real-life exposure and experience to build a strong personality
• There is zero space for friendship and moral attributes that can be inculcated in children
• Monotonous hours of sitting that freeze the mind from learning
• Fewer efforts make teachers and students lethargic and reluctant to do their prescribed jobs
• Education comes with co-curriculum activities and fun that are just replaced with online
pretentious role-plays and presentations that are not making any difference.
• All the virtual platforms are overtaking school education among children, portals like BYJU’s
Udemy, etc. are very expensive for rural education and this will again make a huge gap in
rural and urban education, as well as in social status.
• Gadgets addiction is another major problem that many students face, killing their social life
and getting more and more indulge into a new and advanced machine is what child’s mind
attracts to and at smaller ages children should remain out of reach to such objects.
CONCLUSION
It is not easy to eliminate all the faults of online education because the pros come with cons every
time, the future of education is digital. Developed countries are already advancing in technology
and so is the need for India. Indian students need better equipment and continuous updates
on education. To reduce the rural-urban gap this is the best time to take steps and bring rural
students into the loop of advancement. Measure and monitoring are required to ensure maximum
 Covid-19 and Rural Education in India: Challenges and Impact 283
benefit. A lot of investment is required to distribute necessary material and internet along with
regular electricity and infrastructural requirements. Rural India does not lack aspirations and the
potential to reach heights they just need much more to what they have. Effective implementation
of policy frame would have changed many things, but the pandemic has directed a new trial and
opportunity to build a strong road for students to walk on and reach success. The government
needs a holistic approach to eradicate the challenges and include rural and urban counterparts to
build a strong nation. When each child gets the right to education, he/she needs equal distribution
as well. Whole socio-economic development depends on the very spirit of taking steps in the right
direction.
REFERENCES
Alvi, M., & Gupta, M. (2020). Learning in times of lockdown: how Covid-19 is affecting education and food
security in India. Food Security, 12(4), 793–796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-020-01065-4
Education, D. (2020). Digital Education India Report. June.
Education in a time of Covid: Pandemic amplifies rural-urban digital divide - The Financial Express. (2020). https://
www.financialexpress.com/education-2/education-in-time-of-covid-pandemic-amplifies-rural-urban-
digital-divide/2033459/
Home - ASER Centre. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2020, from http://www.asercentre.org/#udkrd
Jena, P. K. (2020). Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 on Education in India RESEARCH ARTICLE IMPACT OF
PANDEMIC COVID-19 Pravat Kumar Jena. August. https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.39209.07.2020
JENA, P. K. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on Higher Education in India. 77–81. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/jg8fr
Jha, P. N., & Shenoy, P. V. (2016). Digitization of Indian Education Process: A Hope or Hype. IOSR Journal of
Business and Management, 18(10), 131–139. https://doi.org/10.9790/487x-181003131139
kavishwar Ajay. (2018). Digital Education Among Students In Rural Areas | Forbes India Blog. Forbes India.
https://www.forbesindia.com/blog/education/digital-education-among-students-in-rural-areas/
Padhi Balakrushna;, & Lalhriatchiani. (n.d.). COVID-19 and the Challenges of Virtual Mode of Education
in India – University Practice Connect. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://practiceconnect.
azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/covid-19-and-the-challenges-of-virtual-mode-of-education-in-india/
Rampravesh Gond, M., & Gupta, R. (2017). A STUDY ON DIGITAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: SCOPE AND
CHALLENGES OF AN INDIAN SOCIETY (Vol. 2, Issue 3). www.anveshanaindia.com •

View publication stats