As the general holiday for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic stretches further, students in Bangladesh are leaning towards remote learning to catch up with the missed school hours.
The government and various educational institutes have taken a few initiatives, including televised lessons and online classes, to help students continue their studies amid the crisis.
According to education experts, online education was never really popular among students, parents, and teachers in Bangladesh, but its potential and significance became visible as soon as the pandemic reached the country.
However, the availability of remote learning facilities to every student across the country still remains a real challenge.
Remote learning still new to Bangladesh
Educational technology expert Mohammed Rafiqul Islam Sujon told Dhaka Tribune that most people in Bangladesh did not realize online learning could be a great addition to the education system of the country until the schools reopen.
However, Dhaka Tribune talked to a number of students and parents who believe that the televised lessons are not helping students much because there is no room for student-teacher interaction and students are not being evaluated properly.
At the same time, most of them said they prefer online classes, particularly through Facebook live classes.
Considering it as a challenge as well, Rafiqul said at least these lessons are being taught to students who have access to a smartphone, internet and television.
He said a toll free hotline number for students can help remove the barrier.
“Teachers can provide lessons over the phone if any student does not have access to technology needed for distance learning,” he said.
Only 3,600 out of 1,43,000 schools had ICT infrastructure back in 2010, but from 2011 to 2019, more than 45,000 multimedia classrooms were established across the country.
Making remote learning more interactive and fun
To make distance learning more interactive, Rafiqul said students and teachers can interact when they attend classes via Facebook live.
Distance learning has been helping students with their studies amid this lockdown, but what it cannot offer is all the fun activities that children and teenagers get in school.
“Broadcasting motivational and fun shows on TV are also necessary. Children need breathing space too,” he said.
Rafiqul said more than 50,000 multimedia classrooms are in the pipeline. Now that the multimedia tools at classrooms are not being of any use when schools are closed, students had got an opportunity to get themselves oriented with the technology.
Distance learning can help dropouts continue schooling
At a recent webinar hosted my Manusher Jonno Foundation, the executive director of the organization Shaheen Anam said many girls might never come back to school after the pandemic, which might eventually make them victims of child marriage.
She said if they can have access to distance education, they can continue their studies remotely.
Anam also recommended several different measures, including online schooling for everyone, so that girls do not drop out of school.
Online classes on radio soon
Habibur Rahman, program assistant of a2i, a special program of the government’s Digital Bangladesh agenda, told Dhaka Tribune some madrassa students do not have televisions at their homes due to religious reasons and therefore it is not possible to reach them through televised lessons.
Habib said those who do not have access to internet and television, can listen to class lectures on radio soon.
The Covid-19 outbreak resulted in the closing down of all schools and educational institutions in Bangladesh since March18. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said educational institutes might remain closed till September of this year, if the coronavirus situation does not improve.
