The education crisis is in full swing, and several potential trends are emerging to address it. These developments span from online and blended learning to explicitly emphasizing the most vulnerable demographics. Many educators are concerned about how these techniques may impact on education and learning quality.
One of the most significant educational obstacles is students' lack of time and finances. With the recent pandemic, there is less time for education. In Bangladesh, for example, school attendance has dropped by 80%. Remote learning was used by 22% of pupils in Kenya, while online learning was used by 50% of children in Burkina Faso. In Ghana, the pandemic affected two-thirds of students, with between 20% and 30% missing school entirely. While online learning is a novel approach, educators must learn how to adapt to the new environment.
In recent years, online learning has undergone several changes. It started as personal computers became more affordable, and more individuals were utilizing computers for work. In addition, organizations began uploading instructional materials to web-based platforms about this time so they could be accessible from anywhere in the world. Simultaneously, CD-ROM creators recognized that their educational content would need to be altered for this new setting.
Educator workloads are already heavy, but the pandemic has heightened the need for collaborative ways to address the crisis. The Minority Scholars Program in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a perfect example since it has boosted access to difficult academics and club activities for kids of color. It began in one high school 15 years ago and has grown to 25 high and 22 middle schools, involving over 2,000 students. Another example is a collaboration in a Chicago suburb involving union members and parents. The union provides workshops and training to caregivers to help them advocate for children.
The pandemic has caused havoc in the educational system. While many countries are still recuperating from the disease's impacts, others argue that the current system is obsolete. In Sapiens, author Yuval Noah Harari argues that schools have become overly focused on rote learning and traditional academic skills that aren't as necessary for future success as critical thinking and adaptation. As a result, the shift to online learning could catalyze a new approach to education. However, some are concerned that a hasty transition will be too disruptive, while others believe e-learning will become the norm.
The legacy of the Covid-19 epidemic is far from over. For the foreseeable future, educational scientists will continue investigating this global transformation. These real-life stories of those who experienced the early move online will be critical inputs into the educational discourse.
The recent pandemic has swamped our educational system, causing the disease to affect youngsters from all socioeconomic backgrounds. While this has a wider impact, it is most severe for historically disadvantaged students. During the epidemic, children of color and those from low-income households had restricted access to food and shelter, which impacted their development.
In addition to the economic and educational crises, many families face housing insecurity. This has a huge impact on the ability of youngsters to return to school. In addition, the pandemic's job losses have resulted in many displaced families. Furthermore, according to US Census Bureau data, 11.9 million persons living in rental properties are overdue on their rent. These figures are much higher among Black, Hispanic, and Asian tenants.
Creating an EOP is one approach to guarantee that schools are prepared for various situations, including a pandemic sickness epidemic. While COVID-19 is unlikely to become a pandemic, schools must be prepared to deal with an epidemic. The US Department of Education has developed recommendations for schools to assist them in developing an EOP and a crisis response team to help them prepare. In the case of a COVD-19 outbreak, the guideline specifies precise procedures for schools to take.
Schools must have an emergency management plan in place to accommodate the requirements of students and employees in the event of such an incident. These plans must address learning activity continuity, authority succession, and payroll. They should also establish employee criteria, such as who must remain on campus during school closures.
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