How engaged are the children during the online classes?

A study was conducted by the Muttha Foundation in Nov 2020 across Maharashtra to understand the roll-out of tech-based distance education across the state during the school closures due to COVID-19. This extensive study included 409 teachers’ interviews. The main reasons cited by the teachers for distraction among students were network issues, device-related challenges, and household distraction. These findings were similar across regions and across government and private school students, as reported by their teachers. The lack of technical expertise among teachers is also a reason why teachers cannot properly engage students in the classes through interactive teaching. This can also be seen as a big reason for student distraction.

Teachers in their interviews also stated that student participation had reduced in the online classes. Also, a few of them said that the number of students attending the classes is also on the decline and they are losing interest in their studies. In connection with this, when asked to report on the number of hours a day they conducted online classes, 285 (70%) out of 409 teachers across the state conduct TECH BASED DISTANCE EDUCATION classes for 1-2 hours daily, followed by 21 percent conducting for less than an hour. This trend was repeated for government and private schools as also for rural and urban schools.

This study was conducted to understand the approach, challenges and implications of tech-based distance education for the primary school students from the government and budget private schools across Maharashtra.

Next time, we will be sharing with you whether holistic learning is being encouraged or ignored in the online classes.

Also, download our research reports here: https://bit.ly/3x5a27A