Distance education: the answer to education during the lockdown period

The LIRNEasia the Regional ICT Policy and Regulation Think Tank is planning on introducing an online home based teaching methodology, to reach out to school children deprived of their education during this emergency lockdown period.

Senior Fellow Researcher Dr Sujatha Gamage said the idea was formed with input gathered from education experts who met in Colombo to identify and examine good practices in distance education followed by schools, due to COVID-19 threat.

The Education Forum Sri Lanka which gathered on May 2 had come up with the idea of teaching children online using the Zoom App.

Around 34 participants from several districts, including representatives from the Open University of Sri Lanka, nongovernment education institutions, the private education sector, special education institutions and the Information Technology sector, have said distance education the answer for education in this lockdown period.

With schools closed and the Government conducting classes, through the national television channels, only for the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students, it had been noted around 50% of school children are being deprived of education.

Although another 20% attending popular leading schools and private schools are being coached through WhatsApp and Viber, only 38% of students own smartphones, a sample survey done by LIRNEasia had revealed.

Sending assignments and work material to parents’ smart phones had not been practical.

Dr Gamage said around 50% students had been deprived of learning due to closed schools.

To reach out to these students the LIRNEasia’s education forum will host the Zoom Dialogue on the theme ‘ Reaching Out to Children Hitherto Unreached’ on May 13.

More information can be obtained from eduforumLk@Facebook. (CC)