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The global pandemic 2020 has been unprecedented in the history of mankind; the effects of the current pandemic is not localised to it’s geographic orgin, virtually every section of people, economy and all human activities have been severely hit. And our state is no exception, there seems to be absolutely nothing which this global pandemic has left untouched. However, I wish to speak my mind on the matter which to me and lots of people I know find rather disturbing.
Owing to months long lockdown all normal community and personal activities have come to complete standstill. The most important Enterprise of our personal and individual activity - schooling is also badly affected. The normal functioning of school and other educational institutions have been interrupted and left almost paralysed however what keeps our spirit alive is the continual efforts of the department concerned doing it’s best to make up and compensate working days using different means of digital learning. Despite all efforts to make digital learning seamless and easily accessible, there still are numerous issues that pose hurdles. Transmission of all digital learning during the lockdown basically required latest gadgets like smartphones and Television sets which are not easy to procure for financially unstable parents and so is it’s operations. Hopefully, such hurdles are resolved at the earliest with local and institutional arrangements.
The most pertinent issue I wish to share today besides other mentioned problems is the demand for payments of full amount tuition fees(or up to 9 to 11 months for the year) in certain schools in Kiphire town (as for other districts, I have no idea) without taking consideration of certain problems faced by some parents. I don’t object the payments of fees for those services schools are providing notes and conducting exams and it’s deemed that teachers be paid for their services. But what seems to be rather unfair is the demand for full payment of normal tuition fees when the Schools are not performing their normal services like they used to before lockdown. The respective schools ought to take hard reality into consideration before such demands are made because educational institutions are places where morality and ethics are cherished and imbibed.
There are parents whose daily lives have literally become a battle of survival as their income sources have been dried up. Aside from other section of people, daily wagers don’t have the luxury to work online as they have to do it physically given the time of the day. And due to recent lockdown, the only possibility to earn money has been completely scrapped off. As such where do they earn the money to pay school fees in this pandemic times? It would be a great help if the school authorities or the government take certain steps for such unfortunate parents with regard to education of their children. Certain salaried parents who can afford is of another matter but for daily wager it is tough and painful. Humanitarian values are demanded of us in such tough times where supporting each other and providing a helping hand are as crucial as our common effort to combat this pandemic.
For education to be truly fundamental rights of every child, schools and colleges need to ensure that no one is left out or behind because of parents financial issues. Lastly, it’s my sincere urge to civil societies, schools and government to make certain arrangements so that even the poor daily wagers’ child can access and be part of digital learning process.
Tongrichum Jingru