The Digital Divide

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 10^th 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 10^th 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 10^th 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