Online classes a struggle for students, teachers

Even as the government mulls reopening classrooms for students and teachers in a safe manner, many of those engaged in online classes have not found the transition to be straightforward.

Students and teachers at various academic levels have been facing difficulties in adjusting to the online education system - which was launched after the government shut down classrooms across the country in March as the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) spread.

"It was very difficult for me to study through online classes as such mode of learning was an entirely new concept for me," said college student Muhammad Rizwan.

Besides facing difficulty in understanding lectures, he said, "the timing of online classes was also inconvenient.”

Rizwan said that he was unable to concentrate on his studies due to disruptions in the internet connection and the back-to-back classes.

Matriculation student Zoha Ahmed said that the private school she goes to, charged them the full fees even though the quality of instruction being provided through the online classes failed to match those provided in classrooms.

"It is hard for my parents to pay the full fees in this difficult period when most family members have lost their jobs,” she said, adding that they even found it hard to afford their internet connection - imperative for pursuing online studies.

Educationist Dr Pervaiz Hoodboy said the material being used for teaching online by most institutions was not up to the mark.

Education Ministry Secretary Syed Umair Javed pointed to the Teleschool initiative. He said that a survey estimated that the teleschools was garnering a daily viewership of between 1.5 million to 2 million children of 5-to-15 years-of-age.