Online Class: A Necessary Evil

By: Sorokhaibam Pungamba
Online class seems to have gained an unprecedented prominence with each passing day ever since the pandemic broke out. And there is no telling for how long will it continue to prevail. Iam afraid that it will be too much to expect that we are now not far from the glorious life of a student we used to enjoy before the coming of this pandemic.In this highly volatile contemporary world, Expectation can bring us down in matters of seconds. The fast-approaching election makes it even more terrifying than ever before with all the foolhardy actions to support one’s leader.
When students started to learn online, none of them would have thought then that it could potentially poison the overall aspect of their life in due course of time. Many academically-able students stumbled and fall down low enough to occupy the bottom position. Some have even reached, as far as my experience is concerned, the extent of having forgotten how to spell their name correctly. What else could be so effortless a drive than the descent one!Just for your information, it is caused by a thing that they earlier thought will help them shine amidst the rampaging pandemic-ONLINE CLASS.The incredible news is – Parents and custodians are instrumental in this downfall journey of their wards.The light that once shone neck and neck with the luminosity of the sun has now been reduced to a dimly lighted flame. And I do believe with all my sanity that the flicker must have warned them.They are too relieved to worry about the life-threatening negative impact of online class.In order to make sure their child live up to their expectation academically, they seem to have forgotten how indulgent they have become. Yes, they are now assuming the role of a pure Yes Man. They could not help but to nod their head submissively and leave with their child the thing that they think is their life; the thing that they think is impossible to live without even for a split second and the thing that they think holds the supreme power next to MONEY – “SMART PHONE”.
To put it bluntly, they willingly and knowingly, turn a blind eye to the sinister implications it will hold out in the near future. The explanationsare not only too obvious but also very cheap. They are cheaper than the second-hand clothes I used to buy.I love used clothes. They just look classic and expensive on me.So,I put it to you to engage in a quest and discover it yourself. Time to find out what a breath-taking task is like. I assure you it will not be without benefit to you.Much to your resentment, the worst is yet to come. The broad grin on your face when you said that your child is nothing less a prodigy than Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates is now on the verge of a despairing frown. Still then, some parents made it an obligation to over exert themselves (their wards) on the altar of academic excellence and at considerable cost to their child’s constitutions. “Go grab the phone and move straight into your study room” only whet their appetite of exploring the world of video games and social media. They are tempted to take the path of self-destruction in the name of “Education via Online”.As live experience, mention may be made about a boy in our locality whose parents traded family assets(gold) for money for the sole purpose of buying a smartphone and to ensure that he might keep up with his friends.But the outcome is rather disappointing for this seemingly auspicious moment turned out to be an imposter-a moment when his life started to take up the shape of wreckages without him knowing.He only ended up being a pro gamer and he is all set to become an FB prince. The question is- Is it reasoned enough a thing to say that parents alone are to shoulder the risks involved. Do schools and colleges have nothing to do with students’ life. How would they justify imposing more than five-hours-long online class in a day. Is syllabus coverage the only essence of learning? Or should we direct all the blame to the government.
(The writer can be reached at:sorokhaibampungamaba @gmail.com)