Rethink remote learning

As we all know, our country, and the world, is facing an unprecedented challenge – the COVID-19 pandemic. Today Sri Lanka is facing another major challenge, the teachers’ pay issue. First of all, I must hasten to add that this is not an attempt to justify either the government or the unions. But, instead, I would like to focus on the plight of the forgotten and voiceless but most affected group in this conflict, the helpless students.

How can we, as mature responsible adults, help students to continue their studies, uninterrupted, while unions and politicians, of all parties, sort out their mess. Due to the unpredictable behaviour of the virus, we can safely assume that the pre-COVID normal of students attending regular classes, continuously, is a long way off. Therefore, the next best option is to plan for medium term online classes (remote learning). At present, the biggest hurdle we are facing is the teachers’ boycott of online teaching and, unfortunately we don’t see a solution on the horizon. In other countries, the teachers fully cooperate and switch modes of teaching as lockdowns are enforced and lifted, thus minimising the adverse effects of sudden school closures. However, instead of complaining, let us ‘think outside the box’.

For a moment if we take current government teachers out of the equation there are thousands of former school and university teachers in the country and abroad. I am certain they will be proud to uphold the high ideals of this noble profession and volunteer to help the kids. In addition to this group, there are many more that have had university education and gone into other professions (practising or retired engineers, chemists, doctors, administrators) but with skills and knowledge to teach different subjects. I personally know of a number of such professionals in New Zealand who are already helping students in Sri Lanka. At present, such help is given, based on personal contacts. How can we systematize and make this process widely known and accessible to all? The first option, that comes to my mind, is a web-based solution. If a website is available where students can register their needs (subjects or what level) then those interested in teaching, on a voluntary basis, from any part of the world, can indicate their interest. The website becomes a ‘meeting place’ of students and teachers but the teaching can take place outside the site at times, convenient to both parties. Sites, bringing people with common interests together, are not new to the internet. Obviously, like any other online service, safeguards will have to be built in to prevent misuse by unscrupulous people.

I am not an IT expert. But it is an opportunity for a person(s) or an organisation, with IT capability, to embark on a social service project at a time when our future generation is at risk of falling behind in their studies with disastrous consequences for them and for our country. It is a universally accepted fact that life will never be the same after we defeat COVID-19. I believe that time has come to stop blaming politicians and do what each of us can do for the country.

Nimal Abeysinghe

New Zealand