As the pandemic has unfurled its brutal second wave, the students have started to switch to the virtual classes, which once again has resulted in the resurgence of Perceived Academic Stress. Apparently, the remote classes are a prerequisite during pandemic but it does come with a cost that needs to be assessed meticulously.
The ambit of a real class can never be experienced in a closed room wherein there are things that can easily divert the attention of a pupil. The environment of a classroom is a must for an educator to impart education on the educand in the best possible manner. But having such an atmosphere during the present circumstances is extremely impossible which also implies that the virtual learning mode is very less efficient.
The academic stress has begun to escalate in Kashmir among the students. They have now been asked to give full time online classes as that in a school with maximum exposure to the laptop and mobile screens.
However, the health hazards it poses on the children is concerning. The studies have shown that students who have switched to online learning mode experience sleep disorders, anxiety, vehement arguments and even depression in some cases.
The parental support is a must in these situations besides the schools and educational institutions must assign tasks that are carried out off the screens. This will help to avoid the growing Academic Stress trend in our students and will also avert any health hazards.
Pertinently, the government of Madhya Pradesh has set an excellent example by stopping all online classes due to Covid-19 stress except for 10th and 12th class students for limited hours. The government notification says that the present Covid-19 situation in the state has caused tension and among the students due to which all online classes remain suspended from May 1 to May 30.
The administration in J&K must follow the antecedence of the Madhya Pradesh government and should introduce new learning techniques that will avoid children’s exposure to the harmful screens as much as possible. The government is supposed to strike a balance between safeguarding the education of our children while ensuring their health is not compromised.
