India did well in transition to online learning during coronavirus-induced lockdown: Oxford Report

The pandemic has paved the way for a hybrid model in education, combining digital and traditional methods of teaching and learning, but governments need to act so that progress from the past year is not lost, the report stated.

The findings of a new report from Oxford University Press (OUP) have revealed that the transition to online learning during the coronavirus-induced lockdown in India was done rather well, though unequal access to digital learning devices as well as lack of internet connectivity were major issues.

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the country last year, many educational institutions, including schools, colleges and others, have opted for online teaching to avoid any academic loss of the students amid the ongoing crisis. 

The pandemic has paved the way for a hybrid model in education, combining digital and traditional methods of teaching and learning, but governments need to act so that progress from the past year is not lost, according to the report "Education: The Journey Towards a Digital Revolution".

It captured insights from experts across seven markets - India, the UK, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, Spain, and Turkey - as well as from hundreds of teachers globally, and extensive secondary research.

With the pandemic affecting more than 1.7 billion students worldwide over the past 12 months, the report analyzed how teachers, students, and parents adapted to new ways of delivering education and will continue to utilise digital learning tools and resources to shape educational practice in the future.

"In India, compared to other countries, respondents felt that the transition to online learning was done rather well, scoring 3.3/5. However, a major issue identified by respondents was unequal access to digital learning devices, as well as a lack of internet connectivity and little familiarity around the tools required to facilitate online learning," the report said.

"The majority of respondents in India (71 per cent) also felt that shifting to online has been detrimental to wellbeing. The priority for the government is to provide more funding, as well as addressing connectivity issues, particularly in rural areas," it said.

The top three issues identified as having a negative impact on digital learning were: socio-economic barriers, lack of professional development opportunities for teachers, and disruption or uncertainty in day-to-day life caused by the pandemic.

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