Schools in Shutdown: Virtual classes not reality yet
The authorities are yet to introduce regular online classes for school students as educational institutions remain indefinitely closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, the management of renowned Bangla and English medium schools and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education officials, while speaking with The Daily Star, said the introduction of online education is under consideration in case the school shutdown lingers.
A section of educators, however, said uneven access to the internet and devices such as a desktop computer, laptop, or smartphone, are vital obstacles to introducing online learning.
Bangla medium school authorities said they have instructed all their students to follow the televised lessons broadcast by the Sangsad Bangladesh Television for secondary students enrolled in grade six to 10, since Sunday.
English medium schools are sending homework via SMS, email, and social media groups.
"We have a plan to introduce online education in the future," said Professor Syed Golam Faruk, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE).
"But there are some problems -- many students do not have access to the internet, especially in disadvantaged areas. Internet speed is another issue. These are in our consideration.
"We welcome schools individually introducing online-based education. We will encourage them."
In an effort to stem the spread of the virus, all educational institutions were ordered shut from March 17 to 31. This has since been extended to April 9.
Countrywide, some 3.68 crore students in all types of educational institutions and over a million teachers and other school personnel are now confined to their homes.
Top DSHE officials say there is a strong possibility that the government will extend the closure till April 14 -- and perhaps even till the 25th. And in case of the latter, schools and colleges will remain off till May 31 for the Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
WHAT ARE SCHOOLS DOING?
Sunnydale school authorities said teachers usually send homework and links of their lectures to students via email. For example, teachers are now uploading math tasks, the process of solving it, and giving several problems for practice.
"Right now, there is no remote classroom education. We never imagined this kind of situation would arise. If we have to go for further lockdown, the situation may call for an online education system. We will then have to introduce that," said Vice Principal Yasmeen Habib.
"If we stop children's education, a large gap will be created. They will lag behind in acquiring proper knowledge. If these children sit idle, they will be negatively impacted."
Sharmeen Rahman, coordinator of the senior section at the Uttara branch of South Breeze School, also said the school is yet to start online classes.
The school gave hard copies of two weeks' worth of homework to students on March 18. Later, they continued to send homework through email, coordinated by teachers and mentors.
Students of Class IX are learning using Google Classroom and students of class X to XII have WhatsApp groups where teachers send assignments and students have group discussions on solving problems.
Zia Hashan, coordinator of communications at Scholastica, also said that they do not have online education right now. "We are providing homework to students through SMS and email," he said.
Rajuk Uttara Model College, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, and Dhaka Residential Model College are also not conducting online classes.
These institutes said that they have instructed their students to follow the televised lessons regularly. In these lessons, the teachers are assigning homework which the students will need to submit after schools reopen and which will be considered part of their continuous assessment.
They also say said the introduction of online education is under consideration.
"If the schools remain closed for a long time we will have to move to an online education system," said Brig Gen Kazi Shameem Farhad, principal of Dhaka Residential Model College.
"We will talk with others, consider options, and talk with DSHE."
Teachers of his school have started to upload lectures through Google Classroom and YouTube, so that students can go through these lessons at their convenience, he added.
For virtual classes the teachers and students will have to be on a shared online space where they will work together simultaneously. Usually, these interactions take place through videoconferencing.
UNEVEN ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
Echoing the DSHE director general, educators said many students, especially those living in rural areas, lack the steady internet connection or the devices to be able to learn remotely.
Rajuk Uttara Model College Principal Brig Gen Kazi Showkat Alam said that there are multidimensional obstacles in the introduction of online classes.
In his school, for example, secondary and higher secondary students study in both Bangla and English sections. The school also has morning and day shifts. On average, there are 680 students in a class.
"It remains to be seen whether all students have devices and internet access. Even after having access, we can connect at best 50 students," he said.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics' Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019 found only 37.6 percent of households in the countryhas access to the internet by any device from home. It also found only 5.6 percent of households have a computer or tablet.
Telecom insiders said there is 30 percent smartphone penetration in Bangladesh. There are a total 10 crore SIM cards -- of these around four crore are unique users.
"Preparing learner-centred and interactive content is also a challenge," said M Kaykobad, professor of computer science at Buet.
"Bangladesh can develop interactive TV education year-round. Besides this, it can make DVDs of renowned teachers and distribute these. Groups of student can come to a place where a TV or computer can be set up, to participate in learning this way."
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