The responsibility of ensuring quality education lies with the government
KARACHI: Soon after the emergence of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan, the HEC and other academic bodies swiftly decided to shut down education institutions in the country while resorting to online platforms for continuing the rest of the academic year.
Even though the HEC was kind enough to issue guidelines on how universities are expected to handle online education during such an unprecedented situation, a myriad of issues have surfaced with the advent of online learning. A few of the main complications that have irked most students include unavailability of internet services, communicational issues and lack of privacy.
Students specifically from rural areas, devoid of internet access, have been affected the most as they do not enjoy online services like the more privileged students do. Furthermore, many students coming from lower and middle-class backgrounds don’t have a private space where they can participate in online lectures peacefully. The online system is discriminatory at its very core as most underprivileged students do not have the necessary tools to pursue their education and instead lose their precious time by being forced to withdraw from courses.
The responsibility of ensuring quality education lies with the government. The HEC needs to prioritise this matter and provide students with the necessary facilities so that they can continue their education without any issues. In the meantime, it is essential for teachers to understand the needs of the students and empathise with them.
Shehroz Atir
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2020.
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