Challenges to education have been exacerbated by restrictions due to COVID-19, especially for those from poorer backgrounds or in remote areas. It has become a challenge for government, caregivers, teachers and parents to ensure in providing quality education in the pandemic.
Educating kids online
The need for physical distancing has suddenly led to most schools resorting to online teaching, for which the country was absolutely unprepared. Several NGOs are taking care of vulnerable children who are unable to meet educational needs. These NGOs are helping them through every possible resource.
Here’s looking at some NGOs in India that are helping vulnerable children through online education:
Miracle Foundation India, along with CCI (child care institution) teams, is educating kids at child care institutes since the lockdown started. Through Miracle’s support, all the CCIs have set up computer labs with internet connection and electricity back-up. Now, they are in the process of providing tablets and smartphones to children who have returned home their families and do not have access to any technology.
Miracle Foundation is ensuring connectivity and providing data support for these children. They are educating kids with the existing staff of CCI and remote learning to cover their syllabus.
The Bangalore-based NGO focuses on imparting education to students of rural government schools in India by crowdsourcing volunteer teachers and connecting them to the schools using the power of IT. During the pandemic, the foundation is focusing on provide education through remote learning with the access of internet and electronics. E-Vidyaloka believes educating kids online will be the way forward in the future.
Smile Foundation provides education to thousands of children from Class I to Class XII running across 23 states. The foundation found that about 56% of Indian children lack smartphones. In this scenario, amidst Covid-19, they are providing possible solutions to access education.