It’s 2022 But For Children In Odisha’s Jatni, No End In Sight To Online Classes

Jatni: It’s 2022. The world rang in another New Year with low-key celebrations, a grim reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed millions of lives in the last two years, is still around, now as Omicron. Restrictions and WFH (Work From Home) continue to define our daily lives.

But what about children? Schools are still shut. They have been at home for two years now, attending classes on cellphone or laptop screens. Has fatigue set in among them?

Little Nasreen, from Jatni’s Mission School, was in lower nursery when she first heard the words ‘online class’. The whole idea of attending classes on a mobile phone — which, otherwise, was restricted for her — sounded exciting initially.

“It was not easy for us,” said Nasreen’s mother. There was only one smartphone at their home, on which Nasreen attended classes every day.

This whole new mode of learning has not only affected children but also teachers. Older teachers, who haven’t had much experience in smartphones and the internet, had their fair share of struggles.

“I didn’t even know how to use this phone properly. I hardly know how to call people and receive calls,” says Mary Littlewood, class teacher of Standard 1 at Mission School, Jatni.

She explains how difficult it was for her and for some of her colleagues, who were not proficient enough on the technical side. Her neighbour’s kids had to help her set up the laptop and use internet. Twice a week, her fellow teachers would get together to correct papers and share mutual stories of inconvenience.

“It was hard because I didn’t know if the children were listening properly or able to understand what I was teaching. It was extremely awkward in the beginning, talking to the laptop,” says Shanti Sahoo, a teacher at Carmel School, Khurda.

“With time it became easier,” she adds.

The effectiveness of online classes might still be up for debate but it’s the best that schools and our education system have right now to continue with the learning process.