The education system just changed forever!! Here is how-

I believe that now the world around us is stretched by innovation or a new sensation and, it perhaps never shrinks back...

The way adolescents were learning before the pandemic changed more in the past 20 years than in the previous 570 since Gutenberg’s popularization of the printing press. Similarly, in retrospect, the way adolescents learn now has changed more in the past year than in the previous 20.

Let me present a comparative analogy. During post-Ussr-disintegration, an overnight phenomenon took place, which was known as shock therapy. It was an economic theory put to practice during which there was a dramatic rather sudden change to convert the state-controlled economies into a free market economy; as a result, the currency inflated and, the GDP declined. But people tend to ignore the fact that the same shock therapy brought long-term benefits and put an end to an economic structure that was eventually never going to survive. It introduced a more stable and modern economy. This disintegration acted as a catalyst.

Some nations adopted it quickly and thrived, while the others took some time. But eventually, all saw a change for the better.

What I’m trying to explain is that this revolutionary educational reform seen throughout the world was nothing less than “shock therapy”. In a single month, this reform unleashed a virtual gusher of information to the plugged-in human brain in a way never seen before.

The irony is that all of us knew that such changes had to come; conventional classroom education had to change. What we did not expect was this gradual change to be so sudden. This pandemic acted as a catalyst, voila! What we have now is a new educational structure that is not only working but is also thriving. Students who have access to the appropriate technology are retaining more in lesser time. I recognize the people who are unable to access such technology and, what I realize is that any efficient provision for such students is time and capital extensive.

One change that can help the underprivileged students is the opening of fully online schools leading to a reduction of tuition fees and paying for books, transport, and other amenities. This saved money will get invested in buying proper technological equipment (The price of which will fall due to higher production and government subsidies).

We can argue about the pros and cons of the new education system all day long but the reality of the situation is, the pre-covid education system might never come back. Some students might take time to settle in but, eventually, they will thrive and together will take a step towards the evolution of education.

Remember when I said I believe that now the world around us is stretched by innovation or a new sensation and, it perhaps never shrinks back? This is one of those times.

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