Virtual Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic: Pros and Cons

Abstract

The current outbreak of corona virus disease (COVID-19), declared as public health emergency of national and international concern by World Health Organization (WHO), led to unprecedented public health responses in Nepal and many countries around the world including travel restriction, closure of educational institutions, curfews in some places and quarantines. This pandemic has affected lives of millions in different ways in different geographic locations worldwide. Beyond the immediate threat to health, unemployment, insecurity, etc., education is one of the sensitive areas which has been affected tremendously, students in Nepal not being an exception. The closure of all educational institutions effective from 18th March, 2020 followed by the nationwide lockdown from 24th March, 2020 till date enforced by Government of Nepal (GoN) as an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 has shed a light on numerous issues affecting the access to education. As per the United NationsEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report 2020, a total of 1,190,287,189learners are currently affected constituting 68% of the total enrolled learners worldwide because of temporary or indefinite country wide school closures implemented by the respective governments in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. In Nepal alone 8,796,624 students have reportedly been affected.