This article is written by Andreea Bocaneala, communication advisor for a Romanian MP and Apolitical Insider Fellow. The article has been edited by Ayooshee Dookhee, programme specialist for Governance and Policy at the World Economic Forum and Apolitical Insider Fellow.

Five students, one for every level of education, from elementary school to university; and one working a full-time job, were quarantined with eight smartphones, three laptops and two tablets.

For more than two months, all their classes and lectures, homework and even test papers were online. Zoom meetings, Google Classroom accounts and tight log-in schedules were everywhere. The challenge was real, but even so, this was one of the good scenarios. I witnessed and experienced this whole story myself (I am one of the five students), as I spent the lockdown with my extended family in my home village, somewhere in the East of Romania.

The pandemic hit everyone hard and there was not a lot anyone could do to protect themselves after the virus started to spread, other than staying inside as much as possible. While other non-essential activities closed and everything seemed frozen, education had to continue. The fast-spreading virus surprised everyone and the educators and public servants had to come up with solutions for children to be able to continue to grow and learn.

The transition to online education came as a natural thing, especially for those kids who were lucky enough to have a computer or a tablet and parents and teachers who were familiar with the technology. But what happens to those who did not fit in this picture? There are plenty of solutions for them, even if we consider the current situation. All we have to do is to take a step back and look at all the options we have. After that, we will definitely manage to design solutions to ensure every child is able to keep their educational path.

School’s out

As I mentioned before, I was one of the students that had to adapt to the new reality. Since I was surrounded by other students and even parents, I heard a lot of stories about the challenges faced when it comes to remote education - from no Internet access to no computer or other electronic devices at all. And this situation was not just Romania’s case, it was a situation every country had to deal with.

The fight to provide quality education for every child in the world, regardless of their access to the Internet or the presence of technology, is not lost yet

On 1 April, 1,59 billion learners were impacted by school closures.

As a result, the number of users of online education platforms has exploded in the last three months. At the same time, according to the International Communication Union, only 53.6% of the global population has access to the Internet. While the children who have all the means to continue their education online are enjoying the process, those who do not have the equipment or the software solutions needed should not be left behind.

The gap between “the privileged” and “the disadvantaged” widens with every day that passes without a solution for continuing schooling for all children in the world. The results will be not only the difference in the knowledge they will have after the pandemic ends, but for most of the students, especially for those who live in vulnerable environments, this might be the end of their educational path.

What are the options?

The fight to provide quality education for every child in the world, regardless of their access to the Internet or the presence of technology, is not lost yet. From broadcasting classes to providing access to a series of online resources, most countries managed to come up with solutions for distance learning. It has not been easy and it is a work in progress, but the situation is not ideal and after the pandemic will pass, we will be more prepared and more resilient to such crises.

Distance learning solutions can be divided into three categories, depending on the situation of the children.

For those who have a computer or any other gadget that connects to the Internet, school moved entirely online. Plenty of education platforms, apps or other teaching materials were posted online and could be accessed by the students. To avoid an increase in the data costs, most of the sites are free to access and use. Moreover, there are telecom providers who created special data packages for students.

The transition from traditional education to distance learning is far from easy, and stress levels increased for children, parents and educators alike

Secondly, for the situations where no computer, smartphone, tablet or any other device was available, there have been many examples of national education departments having decided to broadcast educational programs on national or local television or radio stations. In this way the children still have guidance during the educational process even though the interaction is limited. In addition, electronic devices were given to the children to connect to their online classes in different countries in the world or in different communities.

Last but not least, for the cases where broadcasting was not a solution or sometimes in addition to that, authorities, NGOs or even teachers prepared printed materials and distributed them to the communities. Students received learning kits containing books, papers or other resources to help them continue their education process. Such a method was used in rural areas in Romania, where teachers prepared papers for children and left them at the local store. It was a substantial effort, but the method allowed children to keep their education going. Something similar happened in the UK, where teachers reported they were sending materials to student’s homes.

Teaching through a Black Swan event

The transition from traditional education to distance learning is far from easy, and stress levels increased for children, parents and educators alike.

They had to find creative ways to involve children and to explain the content in an attractive way, which is complicated when you talk through a screen or when you don’t have the proper training to do that. This is why some organisations considered launching programs or platforms dedicated to parents and teachers, where they could find resources, information, guidance or counselling.

The Covid-19 pandemic was a real Black Swan and we all had to deal with it as it came. As any crisis, this one deepened the differences between different social categories and affected the vulnerable more. As education had to continue and because every child has a right to proper education, distance learning solutions had to be implemented. We definitely learned a lot from this experience. The solutions that have been presented can be adapted or improved by any country according to varied needs. However, one thing is certain: we are now more resilient and more prepared to face this kind of situation without leaving anyone behind.

Coming back to our five students, they have been able to successfully finish their academic year - to be properly graded and to pass all their exams. They are now more resilient and more prepared for whatever the future will bring to them. But for now, they are just enjoying a well-deserved holiday. ⁠— Andreea Bocaneala

(Picture credit: Unsplash)

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