Digital technology on cross hairs of educationalists in the country

Digital education today has crossed pre-set thresholds and provides a positive side to online education which children retain 20 per cent of what they learn than in a classroom said to be around 8 per cent according to statistics, said Dr.Harsha Alles, the Chairman Gateway Group at a recent webinar held on the topic of “Accelerating Digital Education In the Digital Normal.”

Meanwhile around 1.2 billion students the world over have been confined to their homes due to the COVID19 pandemic unable to pursue university education or higher studies. Most countries had not prepared to face such an eventuality and even schools in Sri Lanka did not have a strategic plan and lacked knowledge in selecting appropriate digital platforms during the lockdown period.

Dr. Alles said the perspective for this scenario is a result of students not possessing smart phones or lap laptops to pursue their studies on line, mostly in rural area of the country. Even if they had lap tops they did not have Internet connectivity to go ahead with their studies. ” The lockdown period during COVID- 19 also affected small children who lost physical contact with their teachers in schools they often emulate. Children assiduously follow every twist and turn of their teachers. Some parents even say that children often listen to their teachers than parents.”

He said the duration of the online education should be less than what children learn in a class room to minimise stress and strain. Images provided through online education is another factor that boost learning capabilities.

Additional Secretary , Ministry of Education H.U. Premathilake said that plans are afoot to provide distance education to children living in rural areas through a Rupavahini channel containing lessons on Mathematics, Science and English according to a timetable basis. The Presidential Task Force set up following the COVID-19 pandemic has taken several steps to raise education in rural areas by co-ordinating educational activities with the Higher Education and the Education Ministries and other relevant bodies.

A free education programme has also been launched with assistance from the Dialog network where 2,000 television sets have been provided for this purpose. Public-private partnership is essential in carrying out this on line education programme to provide digital education to every child in the country by 2030.

Director University of Colombo

School of Computing Prof. K. Hewagamage said that a comprehensive national policy is essential in circumventing obstacles that hinder online education in the country. “Students who never had a smart phone before use them today to pursue online education to overcome challenges they faced on earlier occasions.”

Although students face many challenges using digital technology, it is essential they familiarise with technology to achieve results. However some students show fear in using digital technology that others may pry on their studies. They have to absolve themselves from such anxieties to achieve progress. Where digital studies are concerned the work load for both teachers and students increases rapidly, he said

Director of Education ( Data Management & ICT) Ministry of Education G. M. Niel Gunadasa said prior to the COVID- 19 pandemic the Presidential Task Force on Education launched an islandwide programme to propagate digital education among students. The Education Ministry has been entrusted with the task of providing computers to schools and Internet connectivity to facilitate this process. The new concept of E- Learning requires preparation of syllabuses etc by the Ministry and the idea of the whole programme is to produce entrepreneurs capable of creating new inventions. However he stressed that nearly 2000 schools scattered around the country doesn’t have Internet facilities and cyber security is another problem that students have to be aware of.

Prof. of the University of Moratuwa Gihan Dias said students who lack Internet facilities or smart phones and tabs should make use of facilities available at communication centres. A training programme is essential for teachers to rid fears of digital technology as well as motivating students to use them. Answering a question, he said identification of students sitting for an examination from a faraway place is a bit difficult unlike those who call at an examination centre.

Prof. of the University of Moratuwa Gihan Dias said students who lack Internet facilities or smart phones and tabs should make use of facilities available at communication centres. A training programme is essential for teachers to rid fears of digital technology as well as motivating students to use them.