The article discusses “COVID 19 and looming education crisis. The effects of COVID 19 pandemic on education. COVID 19 and looming education crisis. Post COVID 19 education crisis. COVID 19 and looming education crisis. Digital education is the need of time. COVID 19 and looming education crisis.”

COVID 19 A Wake Up Call For Pakistani Researchers

According to a United Nations report, the COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption to the education system in human history. It has affected nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries. The closures of schools, colleges, and other learning institutions have impacted 94 percent of the world’s student population. In this article, we examine how the COVID-19 pandemic is creating an education crisis in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

COVID-19 Pandemic A Divine Curse Or Cure?

To combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus, governments implemented lockdown policies to keep people at home and minimize social interactions. Although these measures were effective in controlling the pandemic, they also led to a decrease in economic activities such as the production and sale of goods and services. Consequently, public school budgets—largely funded by sales tax—suffered significant reductions.

COVID 19 And Looming Education Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic and the successive lockdowns have already significantly disrupted students’ learning progress worldwide. If the policies on lockdowns and school closures continue indefinitely, the future of many learners may be devastated, as students will struggle to cover the curriculum from previous grades.

COVID-19 Pandemic Myths And Reality

Prolonged closures have also led many parents to refrain from paying school and college fees. This has created a challenging situation for educational institutions, particularly low-cost private schools that rely on these fees to pay salaries. As a result, the risk of these schools closing has increased, potentially raising unemployment and jeopardizing the future prospects of numerous students.

The pandemic has also increased dropout rates in schools and colleges, with hunger, unemployment, and poverty emerging as primary contributing factors.

COVID 19 Exposed Health Disparities in Pakistan

One of the major shortcomings of Pakistan’s online learning system, highlighted by the lockdown, is the lack of proper internet infrastructure. Internet service—especially in remote areas—is often poor, with frequent disconnections causing students to miss crucial parts of their classes.

Arranging online classes requires additional resources and an adequate setup that many low-cost private schools do not have. This further exacerbates the disparities in the education system, which already faces significant challenges. 

Impacts of COVID-19 on Social Life in Pakistan

Moreover, the shift to online learning has introduced additional hurdles. These include the need for an effective online assessment system, reliable methods for tracking student attendance, ensuring every student’s internet access, the availability of relevant online data, and robust server security to prevent hacking and maintain fair, up-to-date assessments.

Impacts Of COVID-19 on Pakistan Economy

The closure of schools and colleges is not a viable long-term solution. Education cannot be put on hold; we must find alternative ways to continue educating our younger generation. Enhancing our online learning system is crucial, as the future of education increasingly depends on its effectiveness.