The government’s ‘Digital Bangladesh’ endeavor has become a boon for the country’s around 40 million students as digital devices are now their only way to continue learning due to unexpected closure of their educational institutions for more than three months over the coronavirus pandemic.
The government has been forced to shut down all educational institutions since March 17, and later extended it till August 6 for containing the deadly virus, while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hinted that schools may stay closed till September next if the prevailing situation does not improve.
Just few days after the closure, the primary, secondary and higher education directorates had started disseminating digital lessons through state-run Sangsad Television as well as various online platforms like YouTube and Facebook, while the government has instructed all colleges and universities for taking online classes to keep students in touch with academic activities from home.
“Since we guardians are working from home at this moment, we can communicate with teachers more often. I find it (online classes) pretty good and helpful.” Arshi Quazi, an IT entrepreneur and mother of a seven-year-old girl, told BSS.
She said her daughter Fatiha, a kindergarten student of a Dhanmondi school in the city, is enjoying the online classes through her tab and concentrates on homework as well after attending the virtual sessions every day.
Quazi, however, said though non-technical teachers are struggling to this end, they are taking help from others and doing good. “Teachers and students are trying to cope with it … hope things will be better gradually,” she said, expressing concern over sending her kid to school unless the pandemic is over.
As internet is not cent percent available for all students across the country, the education ministry focuses more on delivering classes on TV, as television sets are widely available at households.
“It’s not very difficult for me to study online or on the TV if I have to do it,” said Effat Muntaha Yusha, an eighth grader of an Uttara school in the capital.
