Since the onset of the Covid19 pandemic, all educational institutions have had to shut down on-campus classes. This extraordinary circumstance has made us convert fully to an online mode of education. If this pandemic hadn’t forced us. Online virtual education seemed like an advancement that could’ve happened 10-15 years later.
But this shift has had various implications for children of all ages. Let’s dive into some of the significant impacts below.
Impact on kindergarten children
These children are the unluckiest as most of them haven’t seen their school. They haven’t sat in a classroom or interacted with peers and teachers. For them, school is just like a YouTube video that plays on a laptop screen.
Parents need to sit with their children during classes and ensure they participate. They need to buy all the toys, equipment, and other stationery that the school would’ve provided otherwise.
Screentime has increased which might harm the delicate eyes of young children.
Impact on children aged 6-16
Children who belong to this age group study in high school. Basic etiquettes have been formed previously. They know who their teachers are and are accountable for their studies. Children in smaller classes might need guidance and supervision from parents.
Children in higher classes understand the repercussions of not doing class assignments. So even if they are sitting at home, they manage to do their work.
Children have become lazy, inattentive, and hyper due to a lack of physical interaction with peers and teachers. Online classes have led to a decrease in attention span, reduced class interactions, habits of eating during classes and inculcated various such bad habits.
Back pain, burning eyes, and painting ears are common complaints by children due to bad posture, continuous usage of headphones, etc.
Impact on teenagers (17-24)
Teenagers at this age are mostly college-going students. They are fully developed and are aware of the problems caused by the pandemic. Online classes have reduced the value of their college degree. This is because all exams have been conducted online. In online exams, nobody studies as they would’ve otherwise.
Open-book exams have led to students ignoring their studies. Many students skip exams, scan their friend’s paper and upload it as theirs. Doctors, engineers, and any students pursuing professional courses face many problems if they cannot do their experiments online. Their courses require lab classes, physical experiments, and practice that cannot occur due to the pandemic.
Students applying for jobs are getting rejected as they are considered the ‘Covid Batch’. Nobody feels that we haven’t worked hard to get the degree. Admission to higher education colleges has become challenging and more competitive as no college looks at the grades. All of them are taking separate entrance examinations.
Anxiety, depression, and loneliness are common mental health issues faced by teenagers. Uncertainty about the future makes them worry more and worsens their mental health.
Advantages of online education
Apart from the several adverse effects mentioned above, online education has some positive impacts. It saves traveling time. Hence children have more time in their hands to do other activities.
It saves money and is less physically straining. It also makes the course accessible to people living around any corner of the world.
If you are a student during these times, do share your experiences and views about online education.
Published By: Khushboo Mehta
Edited By: Kritika Kashyap
