The 3 Decisive Ways How Corona Virus has Affected Global Education Systems – (Covid-19 and Education)

Education reshaping is Evident now.. Who thought that it will reach a time when people could not gather for Education, Worship or any other function? Who thought that Africans can one time not shake hands as sign of greeting anymore? Who else thought that teachers, pastors and others can change professions all of a sudden? Who knew or thought that a person would eat a bat one day and create havoc throughout the world that would shake anybody and everybody? Governments, Kings even the unshakable? Indeed Corona Virus (COVID-19) has caused world’s population to embrace different forms of Lockdown, Cessation, Curfews,fear….

The UK, for example, went into full lockdown from March 23, 2020. Kenya went into partial lockdown and cessation of movement in various counties, cities and estates from late march 2020.Counties like Mombasa, Nairobi, Kilifi, Kwale enduring a great cessation in close to three months and counting in places like Nairobi and Mombasa who are yet to get the anticipated freedom.

Estates like Old town In Mombasa and Eastleigh in Nairobi not left behind in this cessation thing.  From the Electronics, fashion industry to local businesses, Corona Virus disease has affected all sorts of industries following the lockdowns and Cessations for that matter.

In essence the worst hit is the education sector as it hasn’t been able to escape the clench of this disease. In this article I take a look at the three critical effects of the Corona Virus disease on education.

1. Indefinite School Closures & Shutdown

Besides the lockdowns, bans and Cessations, the Corona Virus outbreak has caused total closures of schools, colleges, and universities not only in Kenya but also worldwide.

The COVID-19 is a disease that spreads like wildfire through social contact. Thus, it was a necessity to shut down schools and other education institutes to curb the spread of this deadly virus. The governments, however, have not found out ways to help the children who rely on schools, colleges and universities for more than just education purposes.

Nearly 2 billion students got affected since the school closures became effective from April 26, 2020 and for instance it affected the 15 million candidates in Kenya effective march 16,2020 who were to sit for their final examinations at the end of the year. As per the reports from UNESCO, nearly 200 countries have implemented total school closures throughout the world. Five countries have implemented local school closures. These have impacted 99% of the entire world’s student population. According to the OECD, over 425 million children’s education was affected due to school closures.

Moreover, Worldwide according to UNESCO for instance, sudden school closures led to broader socio-economic issues. More than 370 million youth and children couldn’t attend school from March due to the school closures. Working parents have to stay home to take care of their kids if the schools are closed. Other working class closed earlier and employees proceeded for unpaid leave due to the fear of the disease as well as the governments ban on any form of gatherings. This has caused a decrease in wages and productivity, thereby causing Socio-economic issues for disadvantaged children.

Education and healthcare goes hand to hand. A negative impact on the healthcare system has really impacted the sector in question.Children are left with no choice but to stay back at home. Healthcare workers, thus, also need to stay back for their children. This means they aren’t able to be at the facilities where they are most needed amidst this healthcare crisis.

The Corona virus disease and school closures have also led to an increase in food insecurity. This is because; many children often rely on free or discounted meals at schools. They may be too underprivileged to get a sufficient meal for themselves back at home. The school lunch programs may have been the only source of several students in the United States and world over. The shutting down of schools could mean food insecurity for underprivileged children and families.

2. Alterations in Admissions, Learning Programmes & Examinations Calendars

The closing down of schools, colleges and universities led to the postponing of several important examinations and admissions. Cambridge University, for example, announced that they had to cancel Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level, Cambridge International AS & A Level, Cambridge AICE Diploma, and Cambridge Pre-U examinations. Even International Baccalaureate exams got cancelled following the school closures and rescheduling of school calendars. This does not only apply to Cambridge only but all schools, Public and private as well as colleges and universities. In this regard, the end of the academic year is approaching in several countries. Thus, many students, parents, and teachers are worried about exams and careers in case the school closures are prolonged.

For instance, In Kenya School being rescheduled to re-open on September worries candidates and parents if the remaining time will be sufficient to catch up with studies and prepare with the examinations which are usually taken early November.

This actually poses a challenge of unclear future Career choices since. In most countries in the world, examinations and assessments determine future study choices. Thus, the postponing of exams will make it very difficult for students to pick a course for higher education since it is based on the merit in examinations. For example; Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education determines access to higher education in the country. Hence postponing or not taking this crucial examination by one month reduced different opportunities for students in the verge to advance their future careers.

Coronavirus disease has also led to Adjustment in admission criteria for some programmes for instance, The SAT Testing which is used in most university admission processes in the United States. The exams for this year were supposed to be held on May 2, 2020, and the tests were supposed to be reviewed on June 6, 2020. But now, these tests have been cancelled. Thus, many universities are adjusting their admission criteria to make these exams optional. This is really a change in the testing techniques in these affected universities.

Although not all exams have been postponed or cancelled. Some of them are continuing to take place but in modified formats. The sixth-year medical school students of the United Kingdom, for example, took their exams online for the first time. The CXC high school exams in the Caribbean are most likely to implement enhanced online and offline exam formats. In Kenya also some universities have tried to embrace online study and online examinations.

A lot of exams got cancelled or postponed following this pandemic outbreak. Admissions to schools and colleges have also stopped due to the same reason. Some institutions are trying to modify the admission procedure and exam processes to match pace with the current situation. Others have completely cancelled all exams causing many parents to worry about their children’s future.

3. A rise in Online Educational Programs & Platforms

The arrival of machine learning had promised an alternative to lecture-based traditional teaching, entrenched institutional biases, and outmoded classrooms. Corona Virus has acted as a catalyst in this case. With several schools shutting down due to the pandemic, many countries have already embraced alternative learning programs. Hong Kong, for example, started learning at home through interactive apps in February. Over 120 million students in China started learning several topics through live television broadcasts. Some countries have also copied the same through online running by use of Google classrooms and Zoom to reach out to thirsty students in terms of teaching and learning.

Many Online Educational Platforms have brought forth free educational tools for students who are stuck at home. Companies like Udemy, Coursera and Scholastic are already advertising online programs to encourage students to learn at home.

There has also been advent of interactive apps in all curriculum areas that make learners continue learning without having to step out of their homes. Notwistanding the Online tutoring classes featured by Some tutoring platforms which are also available for learners despite the fact that the digitization of education also seem widen the equality gaps already present in different parts of the world. In this case, the quality of learning primarily depends on the level of digital access. Now that Only 20% of the world’s population is online. That means, most of the children do not have access to digital devices and data plans. They are most likely to lose educational opportunities due to the lack of digital access.

Conclusion

These four are the most crucial effects that Corona Virus has brought on the education sector and other sectors of the economy that are linked tto education. Schools have shut down. Exams are cancelled, postponed and modified. Admission criteria revised among others. Though the change in schools calendar and programs has also led to various inventions & innovations in this sector. But, the governments need to make sure that the innovations could benefit students of all education levels irrespective of their socio-economic status as well as find a way to look at the widening curve between the two economic classes in terms of education access so as to ensure equality.

Leave me a comment and your thoughts on today’s post.