Mohammad Shafi
On hearing the name “Coronavirus ” , our scientists seemed to lose their manliness, students seemed to lose their taste for education, doctors seemed to lose their treatment methods and the world, lost human lives. There are razors in my heart when discussing COVID-19 – which now seems to have spoiled the perfume of our educational system here in Kashmir. Radio and Television are the two important communication devices which can work as the “Messiah” of education during the Coronavirus crisis in our Third World countries. Kashmir is a poor Union territory and students in Poverty apparently are not entitled to get an education here, let alone any mid-day meals in our Government schools. In our country, some people do not have houses to live in. They sleep on roads, in shrines, in temples, and the railway stations. It’s simply a fact of life that the People of India are mostly living in Poverty. The educational sector in our region is telling Parents to buy smart mobile phones during this terrible epidemic. The teachers will teach their students via video lectures or audio lectures. Is it possible that poverty-driven people will be able to buy their children smart phones and laptops during this terrible plague, which can’t even afford two proper meals a day? Wouldn’t it is better for the Government to allow the use of Radio and Television to impart education; poor people have simple phones by which their children can talk to their instructor, if they cannot understand something. During this headless epidemic, Government is headless, seeking to rebuild it’s figurehead. Those poor people, who feed themselves from below poverty line and Antyodaya Anna Youjna ration card. Is it possible for them to buy smart phones and televisions for their children? The answer is that if, on normal days, Government is feeding the local children on mid-day meal scheme, how will they be able to give them an education? Now, how is it possible for poverty – stricken parents to buy these technological gadgets to fulfill their children’s educational needs? If the local government are intent on following this method of education, should they not be obliged to give our children specially adapted mobile phones? Then they wouldn’t feel obliged to give our children meals! I, personally, feel it with all my tragic nerves, that this method of education will not work in our Union territory, Jammu and Kashmir, especially in our rural areas like Upper Breng, Upper regions of Pahalgam, Kupwara, Kulgam etc. In spite of that, the Government said… “Zoom helps universities and schools to improve student outcomes with secure video communication services for hybrid class rooms, administrative meetings and more”. Our policy makers should use our national economy more suitably on appropriate things. They shouldn’t make policies for people who have only the eyes, heart and soul of the middle-classes. They should make polices with the eyes of their nationals, which comprise rich, middle class and poor. They should not drain our national economy by wasting our money by wasting our money on poor policy-making. They should not look like a frog, standing in a well, who knows nothing about the streams, seas and oceans.
COVID 19 is as hungry as a hungry dog; it roams throughout the streets and now it has eaten our educational system as a food. Rich men’s’ children are absolutely able to an education via video lectures as the poor people die of hunger, as the rats in their holes.
All the families in our nation differ enormously-they are as different as the five fingers of a hand. This kind of middle-class policy-making ruins not only the unity of a nation but the spirit of our nation. One of my friends once narrated a story, who himself, is working in a Government school. In his school in the 4th class, a girl-child fell unconscious in class. After some time, she returned to her conscious state. When the teacher enquired about the reason behind her collapse, the girl answered that their family had nothing to eat early in the morning. Before coming to school, she had drunk only a cup of tea – no bread. So the reason why she fell unconscious is clear. HUNGER! There are thousands of similar stories in our country, regarding students from poor families. We should focus upon such critical events happening in our country. We should draw appropriate conclusions. Our Politicians, Educationists and Administrative Officers should use the funds issued by our Government more appropriately. They should show some honesty and stop cheating the people of Kashmir. They should not rob me and to pay you. During this time of crisis in particular is the time when all the people should be served properly and appropriately -like the rest of world-not served by inappropriately acting administrators. To conclude, we humans will rise again and we will shine again but epidemics like COVID 19, Black Death etc, will become a part of our lives but it is only through good, rational education, we will develop intelligence and enquiring minds who will cure and eradicate COVID 19-and similar diseases -from the earth. We know COVID 19 is this year’s wonder, but success is ours if we act appropriately maintain social distancing, stay away from other people and wash our hands. But at this stage, COVID 19 is as hungry as a hungry dog; it roams throughout the streets and now it has eaten our educational system as a food. Rich men’s’ children are absolutely able to an education via video lectures as the poor people die of hunger, as the rats in their holes.
(The writer is a freelancer. Views are his own, [email protected])
