Prof Buno Liegise
Department of Education: Nagaland University
Some immediate measures that may be implemented in institutions of higher education post COVID-19 lockdown.
• It may be a kind gesture to waive off certain aspects of education fee for the months that classes could not held in the institution, as a show that institutions feel for the needs of the poor and socially under-privileged students.
• However, the salary of the teachers and staff should not suffer as they have families to feed and maintain and since the on-going courses may be covered in some way or form. Similar reasons for employers in other industries are already strongly advised to not cut salaries as a result of the lockdown by the Central Government.
• Here are a few suggestions on how teachers can make up for the lost time/non-teaching days in the institution:
i) Take extra classes (1 or 2) every day (Mon - Friday)
ii) Make Saturday a regular working day (with few classes and a co-curricular activity)
iii) Take extra care to judiciously utilise time during institutional hours, for instance, by taking less time for taking roll calls, shorter lunch/recreation time, and holding smart classes. By doing so, a few minutes (approx. 30 minutes) may be saved and utilized to organize one or even two additional classes out of the regular routine by extending institution hours, related to point No. i)
• Suggestions of developing healthy habits:
i) Maintaining social distancing in institution-classroom, conference hall, library, office, and staff room, etc. Shaking of hands as a gesture of greeting is to be avoided. A better option might be to wave/raise or lift up one's hands instead.
ii) Practise basic hygiene such as washing of hands properly with soap.
iii) To sneeze and cough into a handkerchief or into elbows and not into bare hands or openly without covering.
iii) Sanitizing of hands and wearing of face masks (home-made cloth/scarf) is important even if it may not be so convenient (It will be a good initiative if institution arrange for an ample supply of hand sanitizers).
iv)Littering or spitting in the campus must be strictly prohibited both during the time of crisis and after it.
v) A committee at the institutional level can be constituted to drafting an actionable guideline in their own institutional context.
• Should the need arise, free remedial classes/tuition can be provided to academically weaker students towards the end of the semester /academic session.
• From the examination/test angle, teachers can provide more choice of questions in the question paper (this may a temporary measure for internal assessment). This will enable students to have a wider choice of questions to answer and so perhaps have better chances to clear tests and examinations. The general guidelines provided by the University Grants Commission can be referred to.
• Study materials/references may be printed and provided to students or send to them via YouTube/WhatsApp/Email or any online channels especially in the higher classes, which will help them in their home study.
• Institution heads, officials, and teachers may have to be alert for any symptom of Novel Coronavirus infection in students, teachers, or employees so as to take necessary action at the right time. The authorities can make it a requirement to gain the assistance of medical personnel in this regard. On reopening, the faculty and staff may be briefed adequately on the issue at hand so as to enable them to handle the situation maturely and in a professional manner.
• Healthcare centres/units at institutions must be set up and kept on high alert for any emergency situation. In addition, they must make necessary arrangement for thermal screening as soon as people return to institutions upon reopening and appropriate steps taken.
Concluding note
The threat of COVID-19 pandemic may fade away or the event of 'herd immunity' may develop - albeit, one thing certain is that such pandemics like famines and other pestilences, earthquakes, and man-made disasters are bound to happen again in future. Hence, no one should let down their guard or become complacent. Hence, one sector that can play a vital role in preparing the public for such eventualities is education. Thus, a rethinking of education is imperative. Academic bodies/councils, teachers' associations, and administrative forums will do well to dispassionately deliberate on relevant educational reforms that may be required in the context of the people, culture, and society as a whole.
In the coming academic year 2020-2021, and even beyond, more students may decide to seek admissions within their own state, thereby causing institutions to face a big dilemma i.e. the inability to tackle the influx of students not faced before in terms of manpower and infrastructure. Institutional heads need to consider this situation and prepare on how to act swiftly on this matter.
This way, education can go a long way to mitigate as well as cause infrastructural, physical, and psychological relief for students, teachers, other employees, and the society as a whole.
(Note: The views expressed in this write-up is solely that of the writer's and does not in any way reflect that of the University's)
