Impact of Covid 19 on Educational Sector
Authors: Vineet Gangasagar, Priyal Kadam & Manvi Koli
Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted various sectors worldwide, with education being one of the most affected. The rapid transition from traditional classroom learning to online platforms, coupled with widespread school closures, highlighted significant challenges and disparities in access to education. This research aims to explore the multifaceted effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational sector, examining both short-term disruptions and long-term consequences. Key areas of focus include the digital divide, changes in learning outcomes, mental health implications for students and educators, and the role of technology in shaping future educational practices. Through this study, we seek to better understand the resilience of education systems and the transformations that may shape the future of learning.
Objective:
To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational sector
Literature Review:
Effect of online learning on students
Manish Bansal(2023) explains that the virus has significantly affected over 290 million students in 22 countries, with 32 crore students in India alone. In emerging nations, many students are less engaged with online education due to increased food insecurity and low family income, with some even working to support their families. Additionally, the fear of the virus has led to protests by student unions, particularly against the decision to hold end-term exams. This situation has negatively impacted students’ mental health, with a survey by Cao et al. (2020) revealing that 0.9% of students experienced severe anxiety, while 2.7% and 21.3% experienced moderate and mild anxiety, respectively. The pandemic has caused significant challenges for educational institutions, particularly in developing countries. Many parents, who are typically from low-income backgrounds, rely on their work to pay for their children’s education, but job losses due to the lockdown have made it impossible for them to pay school fees, leading to a financial crisis in schools. Educational institutions are struggling to provide online education without sufficient financial resources. Additionally, poor internet connectivity in rural areas and the inability of international students to travel home further complicate the situation.
Effect of E- LEARNING
E-learning is a traditional curriculum enhanced by digital resources, and it can occur both inside and outside the classroom due to the widespread use of computers and the internet. There is growing interest in e-learning, as it is reshaping education by providing students with practical skills like critical analysis, online communication, and data filtering. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to e-learning, particularly as it forced the closure of educational institutions worldwide, including in India. Before the pandemic, e-learning was not widely accepted in many developing countries, especially in public universities without access to formal learning management systems. However, as a result of the pandemic, most higher educational institutions have adopted e-learning for lectures and assessments, reaching over 60% of students globally. While e-learning adoption is easier in developed countries due to established digital infrastructure, developing countries face challenges such as the digital divide, lack of resources, and limited access to learning management systems.
Data Collection:
For the above problem we framed 5 questions on the Likert Scale and we approached 100 students of KBS with google form. With the answers strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree. They were coded as 5,4,3,2 and 1. So that hypothesised mean is 3. Also, for each question mean, standard deviation, standard error and z – scores were calculated. The questions were as follows:
1. I felt disconnected from teachers and friends.
2. My practical learning was affected due to Covid19.
3. I missed school events and fun.
4. My study routine changed a lot.
5. I had trouble understanding the subject online.
Data Analysis:
|
Column1 |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q5 |
|
Mean |
3.44 |
4.06 |
4.09 |
3.9 |
3.75 |
|
SD |
1.27 |
1.17 |
1.03 |
1.11 |
1.14 |
|
SE |
0.13 |
0.12 |
0.10 |
0.11 |
0.11 |
|
Z |
3.45 |
9.06 |
10.63 |
8.14 |
6.58 |
|
Result |
Positive |
Positive |
Positive |
Positive |
Positive |
Conclusion:
1)Many students felt disconnected from teachers and friends.
2)Student’s practical learning was affected due to Covid19.
3)Student’s felt that they missed school events and fun.
4)Student’s study routine changed a lot.
5)Students had trouble understanding the subject online.
References:
Manish Bansal, 2023. “Multidimensional Impact of COVID-19 on the Indian Education Sector,” Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 48(2), pages 214-223, May.
Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ishfaq Ahmad Palla & Abdul Baquee, 2022. “Social Media Use in E-Learning amid COVID 19 Pandemic: Indian Students’ Perspective,” IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.