A Sunday to illuminate the eclipsed future of education- June 21, 2020- is about to witness an online protest on Twitter. More than the cosmic eclipse scheduled today, parents, teachers and education experts are concerned about the eclipse put on education. From 2 PM to 6 PM IST, a tweet storm is scheduled to appeal the government for lifting ban on online schools and protecting the basic #righttolearn.
- Right to Learn
- Right to Work
- Right to Choose what’s best for my child
These basic rights of education stakeholders- students, parents and teachers are at stake. After the announcement of a blanket ban on online schools in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, concerns have raised on the future of education and child’s learning.
“We are not activists, we want to appeal”
Francis Joseph, Co-founder, SLN Global Network, @Francis_Joseph
Sharing with Brainfeed, Francis Joseph, Co-founder, SLN Global Network, @Francis_Joseph says, “This ban on online teaching would stop the children’s interaction which they are having with their teachers. They might continue learning somehow or the other but their interaction with their teachers and their peers will lose so the emotional bonding will suffer.”
Universe of Moms (UNIMO), Indore Mothers (INMO), and First Moms Club are the parents groups which will be raising their voice for #righttolearn and against the ban on online schools.
“They are tweeting so that all policymakers can hear our voice and be little bit considerate to our children and their learning. It’s going to affect the school industry because once children don’t learn, parents will not come to admit their child, schools will not be able to pay teachers, preschools will close, teachers might get demotivated and leave the profession, so it’s a larger cause. Private schools are doing such a great work. It is our submission to the government. We are not here to be activist or we are not here fighting. We are here to appeal to the government to reconsider,” adds Francis.
“We are looking at a year, not 2-3 months”
Dr Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi, Founder, Brainy Bear Preschools, Vice President, Early Childhood Association and Parenting Expert
“We all have to adjust to new normal,” avers Dr Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi, Founder, Brainy Bear Preschools, Vice President, Early Childhood Association and Parenting Expert. “The disease that we have at hand is not going to go away by July. We are looking at a year, possibly more. We have faced riots and natural disasters where children could not go to schools for 2-3 months; but when you talk about for a year, the whole situation changes.
Shares her opinion on the online ban Dr Rao points out, “Firstly, long term point of view needs to be considered. We just cannot deny a child’s right to education irrespective of what the situation is. Secondly, all the stakeholders- parents, teachers, school managements- are willing and putting efforts! I would have preferred that first of all, the government took a consultative approach.”
Raising a query on how the government plans to ensure continuous development of the child, Dr Rao questions, “Do you think parents have the necessity means to educate their children at home? Those children who have teachers will be the lucky few. What about millions of children who don’t have parents who are able to teach, who are both in busy jobs, who don’t have time to teach them? Maybe they will zero-down to other Apps like Byju’s because the ban is not on online learning, but on online schools.” Voicing her worry, she says, “This is very myopic. There has not been enough vision that this decision is going to waste one full year of learning in the formative years of the child. It’s not fair to other parents or children neither it is fair to schools or teachers. I am very worried that what’s happening in 3 states today is tomorrow going to happen in so many other states.”
Ryan Chadha, Entrepreneur, @ryanchadha
“Government has to provide not ban the access”
“Basically what everyone needs is the freedom to choose a method to continue their education,” states Ryan Chadha, Entrepreneur, @ryanchadha.
“Education, being a fundamental human right, can’t be banned only because the only available medium is not available to all. The government’s job is to provide access to every citizen, not to ban access. Just as parents have the freedom to choose a school of their choice, they should also be able to choose the medium of education,” he states.
