SCHOOLING AND COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant disruption in education systems throughout human history, impacting learners, teachers, and school administrators, leading to the closure of schools and various learning spaces. COVID-19 has impacted the student population and disrupted traditional educational practices, resulting in many schools and higher education institutions discontinuing face-to-face teaching. These led to innovation, the implementation of an alternative education system, and assessment strategies for digital learning. The various challenges range from a “major economic downturn, job losses, widespread protests over racial injustice, and the tangible health threat of COVID-19” (Megan et al., 2020).
How will the students, teacher, and parent face such confusion and continuous uncertainty? How can the teacher carry out the assessment? We know that when education systems collapse, peace, prosperous and productive societies cannot be sustained. Therefore, urgent action from all is required to prevent a learning crisis from becoming a generational catastrophe. To combat the pandemic challenge, we have implemented numerous standards like social distancing and restrictive movement policies, which have significantly disrupted traditional educational practices. The sudden and incredibly challenging nature of the pandemic necessitated significant changes in many aspects of life. The hardship affected both the poor and the wealthy in a different capacity. The newcomers, Indigenous groups, people with disabilities, and racialized families are worse off in one way or another.
Recommendation
The teaching profession needs better training in new methods of education delivery and maintaining continuity. Controlling the suppression of the virus's transmission is crucial to avert future national and local outbreaks, (assuming there are any genuine ... ) Schools have the opportunity to re-assess what is best for young people and promote health literacy, healthy habits, and awareness of risky behaviour. These should not be underestimated. Not only should the students' behaviours be impacted by knowledge-based health cultures, but families and communities should also be included. Once the restriction lifts, we should monitor school dropouts closely. With all this, cooperative learning is necessary if the students can collaborate. Students can participate in various activities, including small working groups, storytelling, role-playing, audio and virtual labs, arts, music, and dance, as they connect with offline activities.
Conclusion
The prolonged period of closure and online learning will have a significant impact on student achievement. Students are returning to school and adjusting to different academic skills. Therefore, teachers need to be ready to assist students who are falling behind academically and experiencing disruptions in their learning due to the crisis. These changes in teaching and learning methodologies have consequences for education. To unleash the potential of individuals' collective fulfillment in all areas of students' lives through education investment, we need an inclusive change in education delivery. This will enable children and youth to regain their full potential and secure their promised futures. All stakeholders in education should strive to implement these changes; there are still essential education services, fundamental aspirations, untapped resources, and unlimited potential for all students to benefit from.
