Vaishali,
one of our learning centre students, messaged me yesterday, saying that she is worried
about her studies. She said, “Madam, mala tension alay”. Vaishali is in 10th
std., a regular student of SAJAG learning centre since last 2 and half years. A
very sincere and loving student. She is the fourth child of a single mother.
Her older brothers dropped out early and are working now. She has a very busy routine
at home. She takes care of household work, helps mother in making paper hats
and also takes time to study. Since the lockdown started, her only solace is
the library books she occasionally lends from us. She is our first batch of 10th
std student . Hence, we, the teachers of learning centre were also excited. In
order to motivate them, we shared importance of formal education, higher
studies and how 10th is an important phase of it last year. We had planned
to start studies in May. But with the Covid 19 pandemic crisis, it did not work
out. In the first month she was relaxed. But as the days extended and on
hearing about her peers participating in the online class, she messaged me
about her worry. Unfortunately, she is not the only student who feels left out.
In our learning centre, only 50% of the families of our students have access to good
quality android phone suitable for online learning. Out of this 50%, only 27% phones
are active, that is, able to regularly recharge their phone. This affects
online learning. In addition, these students have no support from parents or
peers as to guide them how to use an app as they too are digitally illiterate. Also,
the figure 50% can be misguided. In that 50% one of the household members, in
most cases, father, has a better-quality android phone. It generally doesn’t
mean that it is accessible for the child. The impact on learning is going to be
high on these students.
There is an interesting study to understand the performance based
on socio-economic class done in Baltimore school mentioned in one of the
chapters in the book ‘Outliers’ by Malcolm Gladwell. The assessments of
students in school were done during the beginning and the end school year as
also after the students returned from the summer holiday. The study depicted
that through the school year, there were not much difference in the scores of
students across socio-economic status. But, in the tests conducted after summer
break, there was a huge difference seen in the scores. In the tests done after
the holidays, the students from higher socio-economic group outscores the
students from low socio-economic background. In Malcolm’s words – “Poor kids
may out-learn rich kids during school year. But during the summer they fall
behind”. Our experience has been not that different. Hence, we at SAJAG
learning centres, do not give long holidays. We have observed that any holidays’
cannot be more than two weeks. More than that leads to huge gap. In the centre
during any break, we engage them in various fun-filled as well as learning
activities. But with this Covid 19 pandemic, they have already experienced a
gap of more than two months. With its extension, the loss of students’
learning is going to be very high.
Access to learning either in physical form or in online form through
opening of schools, libraries should be considered, especially, for the
families of lower socio-economic background. With no support at home and the
schools and the NGOs being helpless to reach them, the ultimate brunt of the
loss is suffered by the students. Currently, we are relying mainly on our weekly
phone calls and our occasional videos which reach few of our students. Libraries
with lending and borrowing services should be opened. There should be measures
to provide tabs to all students who have yellow or orange ration card/ no
ration card. With partnership with local NGOS, local centres should be opened
and trusted with. Community support in this direction should also be
encouraged. Multiple small batches at the centres can be started following the
physical distance guidelines.
Students like Vaishali have the hope and courage to dream. She
works hard to make it possible. She is smart to convince us and gather
supporters like us to help her. Will the Covid 19 crisis dampen her spirits and pushed to join her brothers?
Sajitha
Co-founder SAJAG
